Recreational catches of shortfin mako reveal the impacts of modern fishing on open-ocean sharks.

Research Need

Recreational fishing for open-ocean sharks — including blue sharks, common threshers, porbeagles, and shortfin makos — is a popular activity along the East Coast. These offshore species are highly valued by anglers, but some populations are vulnerable to overfishing. 

The North Atlantic shortfin mako shark, for example, is experiencing high mortality rates, and rebuilding the population could take decades. With the growing popularity of recreational sport fishing, fishery managers are concerned about how angling may affect the species’ ability to recover.

What did they study?

Researchers surveyed recreational fishers from North Carolina to Maine who held a federal permit necessary to fish for sharks. 

The survey included private-boat anglers, as well as charter boat captains. If a respondent had taken at least one trip targeting open-ocean sharks within the past five years, the researchers asked for information about their gear and fishing methods, including hook type and materials, as well as about the handling and release of sharks. 

The research team also asked about motivations for shark fishing, attitudes toward conservation, and views on recent regulatory changes. In addition, the scientists asked for basic demographic information and level of fishing experience.

The survey responses allowed the team to evaluate whether anglers are following existing regulations, as well as recommended catch-and-release and handling techniques. Researchers also were able to identify fishing behaviors that could increase the risk of injury or death to a shark after release.

What did they find?

A total of 3,153 permit holders completed the survey (a response rate of 25.6%). 1,753 anglers (including 174 charter boat captains) reported they had targeted open-ocean sharks within the past five years. 

In particular, surveys indicated that shortfin mako sharks are the main target of the recreational shark fishery in the Northeast. Nearly three-quarters (73.6%) of respondents who targeted specific species of shark indicated that shortfin mako were their primary or secondary target.

Overall, most respondents indicated that they are using gear that aligns with current regulations and conservation recommendations. More than 80% reported using non-offset, non stainless circle hooks when fishing with natural bait, as required by federal law.

However, less experienced anglers reported using stainless hooks more commonly, while the charter boat sector used J-hooks more frequently. 

During catch-and-release fishing, only 0.7% of respondents reported removing sharks from the water, a practice prohibited under federal law due to the increased risk of stress and injury. 

In addition, most respondents reported cutting the hook or cutting the leader as close to the hook as possible when freeing a shark from fishing gear, which fishery managers recommend. Research shows the presence and length of retained fishing gear can increase the risk of death in species, including common thresher sharks and shortfin makos. 

About 20% of anglers also said they attempted to remove hooks during the release process. This is not a management best practice, because forcibly removing hooks can increase the likelihood of mortality after release, especially when hooks are swallowed or deeply embedded in the jaw or throat. 

What else did they find?

Nearly 93% of anglers said they released sharks that they were legally allowed to keep. Common reasons included concerns about the conservation status of certain species, uncertainty about whether a shark was close to the minimum size, and a personal preference for catch-and-release fishing. 

So what?

According to findings from these surveys, contemporary shark fishers demonstrate strong conservation ethics with respect to shortfin mako, abiding by the zero-retention policy implemented in July 2022 to allow the shortfin mako population to recover. 

Because released sharks may still experience stress or injury, however, estimating post-release mortality in the recreational fishery is critical for understanding the true impact of anglers and determining whether current regulations and best practices are sufficient to support long-term recovery.

Reading

Kneebone, J., Holbeche, J., Goldsmith, W. M., & Bernal, D. (2025). Assessing angler attitudes, fishing behavior, boatside handling, and release practices in the northeastern United States recreational fishery for shortfin mako and other pelagic sharks. North American Journal of Fisheries Management, 45(2), 297–308. https://doi.org/10.1093/najfmt/vqaf015

Funding was provided by NOAA Bycatch Reduction and Engineering Program grant number NA20NMF4720273.

Lead photo: Shortfin mako shark swimming near the ocean surface. Credit: NOAA fisheries

The text from Hook, Line & Science is available to reprint and republish at no cost, but only in its entirety and with this attribution: Hook, Line & Science, courtesy of Scott Baker and Sara Mirabilio, North Carolina Sea Grant.