Shark Week is coming soon on Discovery Channel! Sharks are also plentiful an almost every wreck and reef.
For many anglers catching a shark is very high on their bucket list! We have so many varieties here locally you never really know which one you will catch. The one thing you can count on is if you do it right, you are almost assured of catching one. They are plentiful and most bottom fisherman complain about them stealing their fish almost every trip.
The rigging needed is fairly simple and discussed farther down in this article.
You can shark fish from a boat or from the shore. If you shore fish you need a fishing license and a shark permit. You have to take a course to get it but it is free and very short online video course and test.
SHORE-BASED SHARK FISHING COURSE
Shark fishing from shore? Be sure to take the Shark-Smart Fishing educational course at MyFWC.com/SharkCourse and get your Shore-based Shark Fishing permit. Both are required when fishing for shark from shore and must be renewed annually.
https://learningmyfwc.remote-l
What you will need!
Choosing a rod and reel? It’s all about how big of a shark you want to catch. Bigger sharks require larger heavier tackle. Bigger leaders and hooks along with larger baits.
Fishing for smaller sharks in the 4-6ft range you can use lighter tackle. You will always catch more that size as they are more plentiful.
We easily catch sharks both from the shore and boats ranging up to 15-16ft in length and in excess of 800lbs, even from the surf.
You are required to use a non offset circle hook and it can not be stainless steel.
Leader should be between 135lb and up to 600lb braided wire. Normally a leader should be at least 6ft and up. The leader should be at least as long as the shark you plan to catch.
The exception to this is surf fishing when trying to cast a bait. If casting bait any leader more than 3ft is hard to throw. If you have a kayak, float, or surfboard to take the bait out in you can use longer leaders. In the surf the best time to shark fish is dawn, dusk, and after dark. You can not use Chum when surf fishing.
When fishing from a boat you can pretty much fish day or night and do well. Chumming will of course attract sharks, pretty quickly over most wrecks man made structures at that.
As for bait, bonita is a favored bait but northern mackerel, mullet, and ladyfish are all good choices.
Most sharks are edible. Check local regulations on the Fish Rules App for both State and Federal Regulations on size and species.
Is that shark tagged?
- * The recapture of a tagged shark can provide a wealth of data.
- * If it is safe to do so, record the information on the tag and leave it intact and attached to the shark.
- * If it is not safe to read the information on the tag, remove it by cutting the monofilament tether at the base of the tag. Do NOT attempt to pull the tag out.
- * Report the capture information (date, location, shark type and length, etc.) to the agency listed on the tag.
- * Visit the NOAA Apex Predator Program for more information at na.nefsc.noaa. gov/sharks/tagging.html.
Thanks to 30A Light Tackle for some of the photos.