Alabama’s sole authorized commercial shark fishing boat is the “Orca” based in Bon Secour, according to WKRG. The vessel holds both federal and state permits.
The boat had already reached its shark-catching limit in a mere four hours on Tuesday.
Apex Shark Fishing Charters employs a two-mile bottom-long line with 125 hooks while fishing just under three miles away from Dauphin Island’s shore.
The “Orca” was able to efficiently retrieve a large amount of gear over a prolonged period of time. As a result, it reached its limit in a short amount of time.
Lew Childre, representing Apex Shark Fishing, proudly claims that their boat is the sole full-time shark fishing vessel in Alabama. Childre believes that the low shark quotas have been maintained due to insufficient management. According to him, the shark population in the region is abundant and can easily support an increased quota.
According to Childre, the explosion of the shark population is due to this very reason.
According to him, the beach has witnessed a surge in the shark population, primarily because of the reduced fishing activities and an increase in human presence. This has resulted in more frequent encounters between humans and sharks.
During this season, the Gulf of Mexico becomes a hub for the migration of sharks. The Alabama coast is home to over two dozen species of the fifty that inhabit the Gulf of Mexico. These sharks are a common sight in the waters along the Alabama coast.
During a typical excursion, the “Orca” crew reels in a diverse assortment of sharks including blacktips, spinners, finetooth, hammerheads, and the occasional bull shark.
In the summertime, Capt. David Stiller indulges in his passion for fishing and spends about five days a week pursuing his favorite pastime. However, when the fall season rolls around, he and his team shift their focus to federal waters where they are allowed to catch as many sharks as the regulations permit.
Childre points out that despite efforts to reduce their numbers, there are still many sharks present in the ocean.
In his opinion, there is no need to fear them. Rather, they should be regarded as a valuable resource and a fascinating illustration of the wonders of biology and ecology.
After the fishermen bring in their catch, the sharks are immediately processed and the meat is sold to markets in Canada and New York.
