Catch of the Week, May 7, 2016

Believe it or not, for the week of May 7th our catch of the week turned out to be the shark pictured to the right. The common Lemon shark usually grow to a length of around seven feet but have been reported to exceed ten feet. This particular catch weighs in at between 60 and 70 pounds and has grown to roughly four feet in length.

The Bahamas is home to over forty different shark species, but over 80% of them are either unable to harm humans or seldom encounter people. Fishing in the Bahamas has an extensive history and has recently become a major attraction for charters aiming to make an exotic and memorable catch.

The yellow color of the Lemon shark allows it to blend more easily into the oceanic environment by serving as a camouflage for the sandy ocean floor. Lemon sharks are generally found in coral reefs, bays, mangroves, and other shallow waters in subtropical areas. Because of this, they are one of the most common species encountered while shark fishing in the Bahamas.