Exciting shark fishing for everyone.

Article by: Capt. Rick Bennett

Exciting shark fishing for everyone. Among all the varieties of fishing, shark fishing has to be included in the top tier. From youth fishermen to be to older adults like me, the mystery and allure of sharks begs to be challenged. Gone are the days when you could fish for sharks at night off your favorite pier; a practice I participated in frequently. Yet, today fishing for sharks can be relatively easy from boats. Let’s get specific!

Sharks are scavengers. They often feed on schools of fish, such as menhaden, blues and spots. The easier the meal, the better for these toothy fish. By far the easiest method I have found is fishing near shrimp boats. Shrimp boats chug along filling their nets with shrimp and to some extent bycatch. The bycatch typically includes croakers, spots, and several other types of smaller juvenile tasty treats for sharks. When the shrimper pulls his net, he culls the shrimp from the bycatch and the dead fish are thrown overboard. (We certainly could get in a discussion of the destruction of juvenile fishes, but in North Carolina it is still legal.) Fishing for sharks near shrimp boats is ninety-five percent guarantee! Keep reading to find out how.

You are going to want a 6’ to 6 and a half foot heavy action rod with heavy duty rig guides of high quality. If using a spinning rod you will need an 8000 to 10,000 class reel packed with 50 to 65 pound test braid line. A casting rod in the same length and action paired with a conventional reel loaded with the same line. Either way, spinning or conventional, you must have a good drag system. At the end of your running line create a fifteen foot bimini twist double line and add a substantial coastlock ball bearing swivel. Your rig should be made of #9 single strand wire with a barrel swivel on one end and a #10 J hook or a comparable circle hook on the business end. Slowly motor up toward a shrimper who is culling, put most any fresh piece of fish meat on the hook and cast near the boat. (Be sure not to cast your bait into the shrimper’s net; they do not care for that!) Now wait. Soon your line will go taught and the shark will be on the hook. When he feels the point you will NOTICE his reaction. Occasionally, we have caught cobia in the same circumstances. Whoever is driving the boat should maneuver away from the shrimper to avoid any entanglement. During your fight with the shark, everyone else should clear the deck and be ready to assist. I never bring more than the shark’s head out of the water. I use a three foot gaff with a two inch hook and lip gaff the tired shark for a quick picture, cut the line (the hook will rust out quickly), and release the fish.

Through the years we have caught many varieties of sharks. Those would include bull, lemon, spinner, hammerhead, blue, black tip and tiger sharks. They are fun to catch and some put on a fantastic aerial show. Have fun and be safe!

I hope you are enjoying this series of articles regarding inshore and near shore fishing. Check back often for future articles. Oh, if you need a shark or any other rod, I can build you one just like you want it!

Good Fishing!
Capt. Rick Bennett, Ret.
www.rod-man.com
rodman@rod-man.com

Capt. Rick Bennett

A lifetime fisherman, Capt. Rick Bennett, better known as the Rod-Man,has retired from the day to day activities as a charter boat captain but does offer “ON YOUR BOAT” Guided Fishing Trips. Capt. Rick will show you the when, the where and the how. From rod and reel selection to terminal tackle to bait, Capt. Rick has the know how.