| Follow these techniques to practice the surf shark | | | | handle the fatigue during a long fight. Fighting |
| fishing methods used by experienced shark fishing | | | | harnesses vary in style and price. A visit to your |
| anglers. This aspect of surf fishing (for sharks) is | | | | local bait and tackle shop will give you a better |
| really thrilling. | | | | idea what's available. |
| This article is meant to introduce the highlights of | | | | Shark Bait |
| sharking and is based on methods used to surf | | | | Fresh bait is always better than frozen bait. Be |
| fish for sharks up to seven foot. Fishing for | | | | sure to check the local regulations before selecting |
| sharks at the surf line requires a crew of | | | | your bait. Regulations vary from state to state. |
| experienced shark handlers to land & release | | | | Whiting, Mullet, Bluefish, Spanish Mackerel and |
| the shark once you get it to the edge of the | | | | Ladyfish make excellent bait for sharks. Catch |
| beach. | | | | your bait in the morning and keep it on ice for |
| The Shark Fishing Crew | | | | freshness. Size your bait to the hook size you are |
| Plan on setting up a crew. Shark fishing from the | | | | using. Larger fish can be used as cut bait. Hook |
| surf requires at least two experienced shark | | | | sizes for sharks range from 10/0 to 20/0. Bigger |
| handlers. If your crew is inexperienced you should | | | | bait translates into bigger sharks taken. |
| have three or four on your team. Going out with | | | | Shark Rigs |
| the same team each time will develop a synergy | | | | Shark rigs are better homemade. There are |
| among the group so that each member knows | | | | different setups that are preferred by shark |
| exactly what to do at the right time. This is | | | | anglers. I like to use 480# cable for my leaders. |
| important. Shark fishing is a lot of fun but there | | | | To make these you need stainless steel thimbles |
| are dangers to be aware of. | | | | and crimp sleeves to attach hooks and swivels. A |
| Shark Fishing Tackle & Gear | | | | special tool is used to crimp the cable after it |
| Although the sharks can be in just about any | | | | wraps around the thimble. The rig I like uses 18" - |
| depth of water, you will probably be targeting | | | | 24"' of 480# hook leader attached to 6'- 8' of |
| water that is 8' to 10' deep. It's not always | | | | 480# cable. Slide a snap swivel on the main leader |
| possible to cast out to this depth. The shark | | | | (for the sinker to attach) before attaching a |
| anglers use a sit-on-top kayak to carry the bait | | | | swivel on the end to tie off to the main line. |
| to the targeted depth. Since the bait will usually be | | | | Use at least a 10/0 hook or you can make up |
| kayaked out, the surf rods do not need to be as | | | | different size hook rigs and keep them on hand |
| long. Rods that are 5.5' to 8' will suffice. | | | | depending on the bait you catch. Other wise use |
| Reels used for sharking vary. Some surf anglers | | | | you can use cut bait on the 10/0 hooks if you |
| have landed pretty big sharks on tackle that | | | | have to. |
| wasn't designed for it. That being said, if you want | | | | Use only spider weights for sinkers 6oz to 8oz. |
| a reel that will stand up to the big sharks on a | | | | Make them yourself if you can't find them at the |
| regular basis, think about reels that get into the | | | | bait & tackle shops. Spider weights are |
| 80# class. Otherwise a decent quality reel rated | | | | important especially if you are using monofilament |
| for 50# test line will be adequate. | | | | line. Monofilament line has a lot of stretch to it |
| Spool up your reel with 200 - 300 yards plus the | | | | which makes setting the hook difficult. A spider |
| line needed to reach the targeted water depth. If | | | | weight grips the bottom and helps to set the |
| your fishing 200 yards from shore you should | | | | hook when the shark picks up the bait. |
| have 400 - 500 yards of line spooled on your reel | | | | If you plan on fishing for sharks your best bet is |
| of 50# test minimum. If you can't get this much | | | | to get on a shark fishing crew with experienced |
| line on your reel then think about going to braided | | | | shark anglers. Another option is to be a spectator |
| line like Power Pro. You can easily get twice as | | | | at one of the shark tournaments where you can |
| much line on a reel using braided line instead of | | | | witness how the experienced anglers get it done. |
| the lesser expensive monofilament. | | | | Shark fishing from the surf has to be the most |
| Most likely you will want to invest in some type | | | | exciting fishing experience you'll ever get, bar |
| of fighting harness. A fighting harness will help you | | | | none. |