January 20, 2010
Sharks rule the open sea, they are very rarely the prey when it comes to other fish. This is why fishing for sharks can be extremely challenging and fun. So if you think you are up to the challenge to catch some sharks there are some things that you should know if you have not fished for sharks before.
If you are fishing in Florida, then you can hunt for sharks all year round. The deeper the water is, the better chance you have of landing a big shark. Big sharks can be found inshore, but there are not as many as there are in the deep waters of the Gulf or the Atlantic ocean.
When you plan on going shark fishing, you need to be prepared. Many people would advise keeping a checklist beforehand in order to help you with preparation, some things that you should include when packing for your trip are chum and proper gear. Your rods and reels should be able to handle a two pound hundred fish or greater.
A good fishing rod to use is a fifty to eighty pound class rod. You should not forget your harness and safety straps. In addition, you want to remember your bait and chum, running chum is the most effective way to trap a shark so be prepared for a mess onboard.
Depending on what type of shark you are going after, will mainly decide what kind of bait and tackle set up you will need. Some sharks like to swim really deep, while others will rise to the surface when they smell the blood, hook size is very important along with having a gaff if you plan on landing the shark.
As soon as you have waited and finally caught your first shark, you better be prepared. Sharks will have different temperaments and act according to their agitation. Some sharks have been known to slightly drag the bait before they swallow, while other sharks will run at the boat, run in the opposing direction from the boat, or come right up to the boat.
Now that you have the shark close to the boat, your experienced sidekick will be able to help. You will want to hand wire the shark into the boat. Hand wires are meant to be sturdy and they will not break if you are attached to them. Do not wrap the wire around your hand because you want to be able to let go of the wire easily if you have to. If you are keeping a shark, you will need to gaff and rope it by its tail.
As sharks have been overfished, you should only keep a shark if you have plans to eat it, use it in a tournament or if you believe it is a contender for the world record. You can have your picture taken with a shark without killing it.
Jerry Collinsburg has had experience fishing in florida for further than 15 years. For further information on how to catch sharks you can read his entry on his website. Shark Fishing Florida
Filed under Outdoor Sports