Sharks in the eastern med?

[stevecatfisher]

This may be a daft question, but a friend told me that whilst recently in Syria they had seen sharks while out on a boat. This person is a non angler and unable to identify fish accurately.
This was in the region fairly close to Cyprus.
Anyone seen em in Cyprus?
Anyone comment on this?

[TomBettle]

Blues?

I suspect Blue shark are fairly widely distributed through the Med.

GW's are also known to use large parts of the Med for spawning, but this would typically be around the Adriatic, Scicilly and Maltese areas with the odd ones showing as migrating fish in the Gib Straits.

[Pelamid]

Never fished Cyprus so can only go by what I have read.

I was recently looking for a fishing holiday somewhere warmer and whilst checking the internet came across this charter operation:
http://www.charterfishingcyprus.com/Home.aspx

Looks like a fairly new operation and does not have a lot to report, but it might be worth an email to them. Looks like the shark they have reported so far are bottom dwelling types.

[stevecatfisher]

I have heard that the fishing is pretty poor around Cyprus and it looks to be a bit touristy, probably very expensive as all these game fishing boats are. Endless trolling too.

I was just wondering if anyone else had seen any shark out that way and trying to figure out what my mate had seen off Syria.

I said probably dolphins but he reckons a local told him they were sharks and not to swim after late afternoon because that when they feed , I dont know if it was bullsh1t or what.

[TomBettle]

I suppose there's every chance of something making it's way up through the Suez from the Red Sea.
There will be Tiger's and possibly Bull sharks there, but neither of those will be native to the Med.

No reason why there wouldn't be the odd Hammerhead or Mako too, but my guess is Blue Shark will be the main resident fish.

[stevecatfisher]

Good point about the suez Tom, never even considered it.