- This 1175-pound mako shark caught on Strike Zone is the largest fish caught on rod and reel off the California coast. Captain Quinlan now practices catch and release on makos shy of a state record.
You keep what you catch, with the exception of mako sharks, which is our most popular charter. We practice catch and release only for these apex predators, and we target only trophy-class makos. Once you’ve worn down your fish, our professionally trained crew will leader and photograph it before releasing it. Afterward, you will receive an official IGFA certificate of the catch and release, and we offer lifelike release mounts custom-made to “match the catch” perfectly.
Being based in Southern California, where the winters are mild and there are always a minimum of two species of gamefish to target, allows us to offer charters year round. Summer is our busiest time of year because it’s tuna season as well as prime time for trophy makos, but it’s also a relatively short window of opportunity. So, if you’re after the trophy mako of a lifetime or you’re looking to stock the freezer with delicious tuna and mahi-mahi, the time to book is now.
Trophy Fishing Charters also features published fishing articles by Steve Quinlan, an outdoor writer/editor, Coast Guard-certified charter captain and former shark-tournament angler. Over the years, Quinlan’s articles and seminars have provided invaluable insight on how to locate, fight and handle trophy sharks as well as raise awareness for the preservation of these apex predators through catch and release.Welcome to Trophy Shark Charters, your best source of information for catching trophy mako sharks. Whether you’re new to the sport of shark fishing or a veteran shark angler, if your goal is to catch the fish of a lifetime, you’ve come to the right place.
As the name implies, Trophy Shark Charters offers charters in the most shark-infested waters in Southern California with one of the best-known and highly accomplished trophy shark experts in the country. You will be fishing with Captain Steve Quinlan aboard Strike Zone: the winning captain and winning boat featured in Shark Hunters East vs. West on Versus network in 2006.
Captain “Quin” and his crew target trophy sharks while practicing catch and release. Sharks caught on Strike Zone are measured, photographed and released to pass on their proven big-fish genes so that future generations of shark anglers have the opportunity to battle monster sharks. Lifelike trophy release mounts and official IGFA catch certificates are available to preserve the memory of your catch.
In addition, Trophy Shark Charters features invaluable information about shark fishing as well as how-to articles written by Captain Steve Quinlan. This site is currently under construction and is expected to be completely up and running by the end of August 2009. In the meantime, if you have any questions or wish to reserve a charter, don’t hesitate to contact Captain Quinlan at stevequinlan@charter.net.