Verdigre Creek Journal | Sharkin’ in San Deigo, Part V

Sharkin’ in San Deigo, Part V – The Chum Slick

Dave stopped the boat. The water was 100 fathoms deep. He attached the chum bucket to the side of the boat, scored the tuna only after cutting the fish’s belly off, and dumped it in the bucket. He set a course to return to the continental shelf and cruised along at a couple of knots, steering the boat while simultaneously smashing the chum with a PVC pipe.

Tuna for the Chum Bucket

Chummin'

The oils from the tuna were visible on the surface of the water. Bits of tuna floating behind the boat attracted flying rats, seagulls, in search of a free meal.

Flying Rat

Watching the sonar, we could see the bottom rise steeply to 300′. We were back at the continental shelf. Dave shut off the motor and we began to drift.

Trimble said that fishing with a Santa Ana wind would be tough.

Our chum slick, though, would draw the makos to the boat.

The situation is not unlike chumming for bear. Makos and bears share the fact that humans are their only predators. From their beginnings as cute and cuddly cubs, a bear belies its true nature as it ambles along in search of berries.

Makos, on the other hand, look like killers. They are born as killers. Developing embryos feed on unfertilized eggs produced by the mother in the uterus during the gestation period and, indeed, there is evidence of sibling cannibalism in the short-fin mako. They live as killers. The mako has a heat exchange circulatory system that allows the shark to be seven to ten degrees warmer than the surrounding water. This system enables the mako to maintain a high level of activity. They die as killers. In Italy, makos are often found with amputated swordfish bills impaled in the mako’s head. If they are going down, they are going down with a fight.

That is what sets the mako apart from any other quarry. Makos could have you for lunch.

We watched intently. We’d look to spy the short fin of the mako on the surface or to glimpse the torpedo-shaped body in the depths.

After an hour of watching, the two large cups of coffee that I had had earlier were beginning to take their toll.

My bladder was ready to burst.

I learned that urinating in a 3 foot swell was no small task. My legs, well acclimated to movement on terra firma, struggled to make my way to the stern. I balanced myself precariously against the 250 horsepower outboard by pressing my knee against the hood. I was about to unzip when I looked down. There he was.

“You might want to be careful,” Captain Dave Trimble said.

I saw his point. A mako circled below the boat.

On to Part VI – The Teaser, The Catch, The ReleaseFeatured DVDs & Books