You have a few options. Some guys just cut the leaders and let the saltwater dissolve the hook. Others will use a gaff to keep the shark under control from its center of gravity and a hook out like this: http://www.landbigfish.com/images/store/BAK-HO.jpg

I would not recommend getting your hand close enough to a 5 ft+ sharks mouth to remove a hook with a hook out unless you plan on killing it and have it gaffed. All it takes is one thrash and you're looking at being short a few fingers.

 

Cut the line

 

X2.

 

What size sharks and what kind of tackle are you talkin?

For my beach shark fishing setups I use mainly 18/0 and 20/0 circle hooks. I use a pair of heavy bolt cutters to get the hook out. If I can't wrench the hook out then I snip it in half with the cutters and let the shark go. Big hooks like that shouldn't be left in the shark if at all possible. They may never rust out.

Smaller, thinner hooks that rust easy can be left.

 

Yeah, any sharks I have caught in the past from the boat we just cut the line when it got up to the boat. 16/0-20/0 circle hooks is what I would usually use. Hooks can by expensive but their cheaper than fingers!

 

Yea if you are going to use those big circles I would get a pair of heavy bolt cutters. You can 99% of the time twist the hook out with the cutters. If its taking too long you can snip the hook. Those big circles take forever to rust out.

 

Saw some Morons on the West End a couple of weeks ago catch 2-5ft Sharks. They did not know what to do with them once they got them on the beach. They ended up killing them. I was walking the beach when I came back both sharks were washed up on the edge of the beach. Left for dead.
I was pizzed. There were several of them plus drinking and one of me.

Something else to help handle them is a steel mess fillet glove or 2.

 

Saw some Morons on the West End a couple of weeks ago catch 2-5ft Sharks. They did not know what to do with them once they got them on the beach. They ended up killing them. I was walking the beach when I came back both sharks were washed up on the edge of the beach. Left for dead.
I was pizzed. There were several of them plus drinking and one of me.

Something else to help handle them is a steel mess fillet glove or 2.

Yep, that's what I wanted to avoid! Do t want to kill one unless I am gonna eat it. What sharks are good to eat?

 

I am not a shark expert when it come to eating them. I do not care for the taste. In our area I would say Black Tip make the best table fare.
You should catch some of them. Pretty common shark around here. That is what the guys caught the other day.

Maybe some others will chime in on which ones to eat or not.

Sand Sharks and Bonnet heads pretty common also. Not sure about eating them.
Have fun, good luck, be safe.

Bleed them out and then fillets get on ice soon.

 

Dehooker

 

Was with a buddy last year when he pulled in a 5-6 footer at the surf. He and another guy sat on the shark and used a knife to cut where the hook was and were able to twist it back out really easily.

 

Small little bolt cutters make it so easy, snip the hook and slide it right out and it's back in the water in seconds.

 

3 ft steel leader and a 16 or larger circle hook. Then a long dehooker.

http://southchathamtackle.com/docs/DeHookers_GOM.pdf

Blacktop n Mako good table fare. See other threads on care of shark from start to finish .

 

I've never tried it, but I remember reading one method on here that I would try if the shark was big enough.

*Once on the beach*

One person stands on the sharks pectoral fins and holds the tip of the nose high(to open the mouth and take away leverage for the fish to jerk around).

Another person uses a long hook out/dehooker and removes the hook from the mouth.

The only problem I see with that is potentially harming the fish, but if done gently and quickly I think it would work out just fine.

 

I'm no shark fisherman but I have watched some hard core shark fisherman down on big shell bring in some really big ones. They do their best to release the sharks unharmed and get the jewelry out of their mouth. Some will tail rope to control but a lot of folks do this. Then one of them will sit on top by the head, shove a piece of driftwood in it's mouth and sit on head to keep it closed against the wood. Reach in and get the hook. Their adrenaline had to be going because mine was and I was 15 feet away.

 

Yeah. Don't think I'll be trying that!

 

I never hit the surf without them! I will take a pair of bolt cutter over losing a finger any day!