Shark fishermen take advantage of the free chum. A dead mullet dipped in fish oil and blood will entice any shark drawn to the feeding frenzy. Chunked fish, fillets or frozen baits all work equally well. Charter captains who know the shrimp boat captains sometimes call them over their VHF radios and request scrap to use as bait. The bait is tossed overboard inside a plastic bag or plastic pail so it will float and the charter captain picks it up with a landing net or gaff.

Trolling behind a shrimp boat usually results in a strike. Therefore, most anglers fishing near shrimp boats troll only one or two lines. It saves the trouble of having to clear lines when a shark strikes and runs.

A 100- to 200-pound shark hooked on light king mackerel tackle behind a shrimp boat puts on a tough battle. Initially, the fish will take 100 to 200 yards of line against a tight drag. Anglers are advised to wear a fight belt to prevent injury to the groin area, as well as to help subdue the fish while preventing fatigue. Many sharks can be hooked in a day's fishing near the shrimp boats, so anything the angler can do to keep up his strength is a good idea.

When sportfishing for midsized sharks, most anglers release everything they catch. They play the fish until it's tired, which usually takes 15 to 30 minutes. Then they use a de-hooking tool to pull the hook free. The hook is sized to the fish, usually a 4/0 to 9/0 hook and seldom stainless steel. When a shark comes alongside but is too frisky for a safe release, the leader is cut. Using a hook that corrodes not only is safer for the fish, it saves money over buying stainless steel hooks.

Several large species of coastal sharks can be landed. But when a big shark is taken for the table, some forethought should take place. A large enough fish box to hold the entire fish or a marlin bag must be aboard with enough ice to keep the fish cold. The fish is gaffed with a stout gaff and brought aboard. For larger fish, a second gaff or a rope may be necessary to lift the tail into the boat. Some shark fishermen use a diver's bang stick or .410 shotgun to shoot the fish in the brain before bringing it aboard.

Any shark, even an apparently dead one, can suddenly come to life. If a shark bites any part of human anatomy, that part is gone. Even a small dogfish can inflict a serious wound to a hand or a foot. An aluminum or wood club or a rubber mallet can be used to calm a fish once it's aboard.

No angler should attempt to land a big shark unless he has experience. He should fish with an experienced shark fisherman before trying it on his own. But for anyone who only wants a big pull on the line before releasing a fish, sharks are the easiest big-game fish to catch.