Mako sharks

[fishbuster1]

Anybody out there know of any good patterns for mako sharks?

[Northup]

fishbuster1,

I have hooked two makos in my lifetime. Mako #1...Came from out of nowhere to beat two blue sharks to the fly. I was casting to the blues that were hanging back in the slick eating up our tossed teaser mackeral chunks. The only guy who actually saw the hook up was my buddy up in the tower. He was directing my casts when the mako came up and hit. The fish made a short run and blasted off about 20 yards from our boat. It was enough to make me go numb. I was 20 years old at the time! The fish then made a screaming run I estimate to be well over 250yrds(conservative) He then turned direction for a short tug of war then made other unbelievable run. I was using one of those old Orvis Tarpon DXR reels at the time. I glanced down to see that the runs had actually "spun" the reel handle almost off. It was panick time as we tried to repair it before the next run. But it was not to happen...the fish gained his strength back so quickly and blasted again; landing and again making another 200+ yard run. The reel just could not handle it. The handle spun completely off and the drag was turned to mud. Needless to say I lost the fish estimated to be around
125lb. That was a fight I will remember for a lifetime. Mako #2...Less drama but still memorable. The mako was alone in the slick and was spotted from up top after he nailed a drifting seagull. He came in after the tossed chunks and was hooked on the first shot. He made a giant blast and tore off for the horizon with my busted leader dangling from his mouth. We all agreed it looked about 150lbs.

Both fish hit the same fly and were hooked 3 years apart. The fly was a big 7/0 "thing" The body was made of clear/pearl ultra hair type material. (At that time I actually took the fiber from a parachute jig-it was hard to find ultra hair type material then) and long white bucktail. Lots of pearl,red, and silver flash. The top "wing" was really bright chart. bucktail.
The fly was about 6" long and really bulky.
I have never actually landed a mako but I hope this helps in your quest. I spent the better days of my teens and early twenties trying.
Both fish were hooked south of my home, Block Island, RI.
I'm engaged now and enjoying great flats fishing in the Texas gulf coast! Man...priorities change! Best of Luck.
Capt. Mark Northup sandypointflyleaderco@yahoo.com