Shark Fishing Tips

Shark fishing is a unique and exhilarating angler experience that’s unlike any other, but it’s not an easy thing for first time shark anglers to go fishing sharks on their own. For this reason, many anglers begin their careers aboard shark fishing charters alongside professional guides who introduce them to the techniques, the equipment, and most importantly, the nuances of the sport.

Although most does, not all fishing for sharks takes place in a boat. In fact, you can fish right from the shore in some areas. You might have heard this referred to as kayak shark fishing. The anglers don’t actually fish from the kayak, but they do use them to carry the chum out to the appropriate point in the ocean since it’s not practical to cast the chum far enough.

When chum is set this way, we call it setting a chum slick, similar to what we’d use for flounder except with more chum. The most common types of chum used for shark are bunker chum and mackerel chum. Bunker chum is ground bunker frozen in large tins. It’s very oily, so it produces a healthy slick on top of the water. Mackerel is similar except some anglers prefer it since you can simply punch holes in the tin to disperse it.

The most important aspect of all the gear you have for angling shark is your shark fishing tackle. That’s because this is where these powerful creatures meet your line. Therefore, you’ll want to spend the additional money to buy high quality leaders and hooks. These items take the brunt of the abuse when the shark begins to fight.

Generally, most anglers use 400 pound stainless steel cable for their shark leaders, although piano wire is a common alternative. In addition, you should attach all swivels and hooks to the line with crimps that the manufacturer has rated for the appropriate weight. These setups are expensive, and it’s far more cost-effective to buy the material and make several of your own.

When choosing your rod and reel, there are but two choices: baitcaster and spinning. Spinning rods are convenient because the angler can use them throughout the year for all kinds of fishing. However, since they’ll wear down under the abuse of angling for sharks, it’s not necessarily a cost effective choice long term.

If you don’t mind spending $50 each year, a spinning rod that supports 400 yards of 40 pound test line is a good buy. The bait cast reel is a better long-term option, and it’s what you’ll want to use if you’re fishing off the side of a boat. A comparable baitcaster to the rod mentioned above will cost about $100. If you’re willing to spend several times more than that, you’ll have a rod that will last multiple seasons.