Shark Fishing on the Fly: Messing with The Blue Dynamite
Published: 4th August 2025 | Author: David Lambert
I love sharks. What nature lover wouldn’t? As far as fish are concerned, sharks are the pinnacle of the marine food chain. The orca has to be the deadliest animal in the ocean, but their beauty and grace can make you forget what they are capable of. Although just as beautiful, sharks possess a form that instantly tells you what they are about. The body shape, articulated jaw and many rows of lacerating teeth are obviously designed for one thing.
Until relatively recently I had no real desire to catch sharks on the fly, and to a degree that is still true. I have had far more days fishing ruined by sharks than enhanced by them. Losing a good gamefish to a shark is a horrible feeling I never want to repeat. An inevitable part of that type of fishing perhaps, but I feel uncomfortable playing a part in a fishes death that otherwise could have easily out swum a shark.
My biggest ever fish was a six gill shark hooked accidentally whilst targeting oil fish, an amazing spectacle but far from the most exciting fish to of graced my rod. I believe on the whole sharks are better off observed than fished for. Throughout my life, have been lucky enough to spend time with sharks underwater. I feel that viewing them underwater is where they are at their best and the experiences left me with no desire to fish for them. So, why am I here writing about shark fishing on the fly? Well, there are exceptions to everything….
Interested in Shark Fishing?
I’d like to recommend you a book. Fly fishing for sharks by Richard Louv. It’s an excellent piece of work and one of the greatest and most underrated fishing books I have ever read. Don’t let the title fool you—sure, the first chapter covers sharks, but the book offers much more than that. This book is a study of a fisherman’s journey through life and the many places and characters that make this sport so great.
Making Connections
While reading this book, I first learned about Conway Bowman. Conway is a world renowned fly fisherman from southern California. He is also the man who truly pioneered fly fishing for Mako sharks. I read about a technique that turned everything I thought I knew about shark fishing upside down. Conway’s method has also spread awareness about Makos. This has led to a massive reduction in commercial fishing pressure they receive which historically has been problematic. Fisheries conservation & proper management is exactly what fishing should be about for all of us. Numerous articles, podcasts and YouTube clips confirmed that shark fishing on the fly was something I had to do, and Conway was someone I had to meet.
Day One: A Hitch in the Plans
I was fishing with my friend Matt Harris, an all round good guy and probably the greatest fishing photographer the sport has ever seen. Our trip started badly due to our first day being called off due to wind. An occupational hazard I was more than familiar with but the years of dreaming, months of planning and days of travelling still made that hurt. Nonetheless, we relaxed and the day slowly passed.
The obligatory visits to the local tackle shops were made which naturally introduced us to a few of the many characters San Diego had to offer. My favourite was Jackson, a commercial guy in his late 60s who had spent his whole life fishing, travelling and generally having fun. I wish I could remember all his stories. The most amusing was listening to him lament the injustices of a recent change in law that meant he could no longer show any rogue sea lions the business end of his sharpened pick axe.
Day Two: Mako Mission on the Fly
It was the second morning before our boat finally slipped out of Mission Bay into a rolling Pacific swell. We motored offshore for about half an hour before Conway cut the engine and the day began. I had goose bumps watching the oily slick start to form downwind the chum bag. Anticipation is one of the best emotions in fishing. When you’re in the middle of the Pacific Ocean fly fishing for Mako sharks, it’s simply electric. Then we waited and waited for something that feels like it will never happen, until it does. Then it’s there in front of you. The most menacing creature I have ever seen. Beauty and the beast encompassed in one.
As I said earlier I had seen sharks before. Cornish blues cruising in the sun, Ascension Galapagos tearing a tuna carcass to shreds, tiger’s slowly circling below a large supply ship waiting for their time. This shark encouter was different. Perhaps it was just the knowing what these sharks are capable of. This shark had a unique aura around it. Everything I knew about the Mako shark flashed through my mind: The fastest shark in the sea (up to 45mph), he most powerful shark bite ever recorded (3,000 pounds per square inch), the highest jumping shark (10 meters) and the most calculated attack.
Feeding Behavior
A Mako’s favourite hunting strategy is to observe its prey from below before attacking vertically at high speed. They sever the preys tail with a single bite, thus rendering the victim helpless before returning to finish the job. Their favourite prey being Swordfish, another creature not found lacking in the attitude or aggression department. When most sharks attack they cover their eyes with a third eyelid, the nictitating membrane, to protect them from damage. Mako’s possess this membrane but seldom use it, they like to watch.
The shark circled the boat slowly gaining confidence and closing the distance. It glided effortlessly through the water in a similar fashion to a tuna. Hardly any noticeable fin movement perfectly displayed the efficiency of its perfect hydrodynamic form. Its large terrorizing black eyes constantly fixed on its target…us. It was around this moment that I realised just how perfect this scenario really was. Up to this point no one had actually touched a fishing rod and the day was already way beyond a success. I had finally laid eyes on the shark of my dreams, the blue dynamite. I was in possession of images that will be with me forever but I won’t lie, I wanted more, I wanted to touch it. It was time to see what this shark can do.
First Shark of the Trip
Since the trip had been my idea, Matt generously insisted I take the first turn on the rod. No coin toss required. I picked up the 14wt fly rod and stripped of enough line to make the required cast. I then re-spooled it to make sure it would flow smoothly off the reel when the shark took off. The shark was circling clockwise. As it came round from my left, I made a cast several meters in front of and beyond the shark. It was important to lead the shark as to allow the fly to sink. We were using a floating line which can cause a fly to skate across the surface if you are too quick to begin the retrieve.
I started my retrieve and pulled the fly into the shark’s window. It accelerated with a casual flick of its tail and at the last moment turned and just grazed my fly with its flank. Stupid, these sharks are not. It’s also important to remember this is proper fly fishing, perhaps not in its purest form. As I said we used chum to attract them, but once they are there it’s just a fly that is offered, no scent or belly strip attached. Just a bunch of your favourite colour schlappen feathers tied to a barbless 6\0 hook.
I think it was the third cast when again the shark accelerated at my fly. It paused for a split second and then shot forward engulfing it. I instantly pulled tight and made several strip strikes. There is no deep hooking in this game. The shark opened its mouth beautifully displaying its sharp end and thrashed from side to side. “Hello!” Chuckled Conway…and then it was gone.
The next time I saw it a few seconds later it was 10ft up in the air and 60 yards out to my left. The speed of this shark left my line still pointing at the same piece of water where I had hooked it even though the fish was a ways away. Apparently not every Mako jumps, but every one we hooked did. Spectacular laugh out loud moments forever etched in my mind. A few months earlier, I caught several large tarpon on the fly and felt convinced I had discovered the pinnacle of fly fishing. This shark did an excellent job of showing me that I still have a lot to learn.
It’s amazing how quickly these sharks tire themselves out and calm down when using a light drag (3-5lbs). Boat control is also critical, keeping the fish facing the boat. Makos don’t like anything threatening behind them but it seems they have no fear facing danger head on. These tactics can draw the shark into a sort of trance, similar to tonic immobility, except they weren’t upside down. Time and time again, I’ve learned that when you fight a big fish with a heavy drag, it fights back—deep and hard. The lighter drag lets the fish tire themselves out, giving you a much more impressive display of their aerobatic capabilities and speed.
The shark eventually came along side and as Conway leadered it I reached down and put my hand around its tail. The caudal keel was the first thing that struck me; this creature is more billfish than shark. Several copepods hung from its fins like yaw strings on a fighter jet. The electric silvers and blues were some of the best I have ever seen but it was the eye absorbed me.
A black hole of intimidating terror and the last thing a lot of other less fortunate animals had ever seen. As Conway flicked the barbless single out from the corner of its jaws, I realized this truly ranks as one of the least invasive methods I had seen in 30 years of fishing. Not one of these sharks ever leaves the water; there was no recovery time or nursing required. Every shark powered of strongly leaving me wondering if they realised or even cared what had just happened to them.
Finding Our Stride
Over the next few days, we caught six sharks and attracted several more, each displaying a totally different personality that we would have missed if we had targeted them any other way. We saw some sharks come in hot and attack the fly first cast, others slowly approached gaining confidence and aggression the closer they got. My favourite was the high speed drive by where you would catch just a glimpse of something quickly shooting by, pushing the limit of your visibility. Did I just see it or not? A few tense moments later you would see it again, a little closer, a little more curious, repeating until you could make your shot.
The only thing missing from this trip was a shot at a truly huge fish. Not that I particularly care. Conway regularly catches sharks over 300lb, his pb being a staggering 700lb. Simply mind blowing for a fly caught fish. When playing these types of games unfinished business is a wonderful dilemma you’re lucky to possess. I will be back.
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