First "REAL" shark hooked in California

I'll just start out by saying, that as many of you may know I am based in California and haven't had a chance yet to travel to the Sunshine state to chase big sharks, but I still chase the smaller ones that live here in Cali. We have 5 sharks that get big (over 100lbs) here and "can" be caught from shore. Soupfin sharks (max about 150lbs), Sevengill Sharks (max about 400-500lbs), Sixgill Sharks (extremely rare, but grow to 1,300lbs), Thresher Sharks (max from shore in probably 200lbs) and of course Great White Sharks. Most of these sharks are deeper water and difficult to fish for from shore. A few guys have found deep holes and can consistently catch them, but there guard there spots with there life.

Last night I was lucky enough to hook one of these big ones from the pier. Here's the story.

After hooking my newbie fishing buddy up with a big ray night before last, they were hooked and wanted more.

Decided to drop some long baits off the pier to see if it made any difference from casting baits.

Boy did it ever!!!!!

Showed up around 9:30-10. A little for thought told me I should rig all steel leaders with 12' of 80lb mono for abrasion. Bait for the night was 1 cut perch and fresh Mackeral.

Dropped my buddies board off the pier as he climbed down the ladder. Had a sweet system with two waterproof wakie talkie to tell him where to drop the baits and play some music to comfort him.

Took one bait 175yds and the other 150yds directly off the end of the pier. Had a crowd telling us how crazy and awesome it was at the same time. Keep in mind kayaking baits off shore hasn't caught on in California and no one does it. This was probably the first time any of them had seen anyone do anything like this.

Around 12:00 there is a slow roll off the reel, set the hook and hand it to my buddy who took te bait out. I can instantly see head shakes, but it is coming in really easy. As we're getting it in closer that's when we see it. IT WAS HUGE!!!!!!! Fish takes off on some good runs. Have to work our way around the pier clearing rods along the way. Everyone was awesome and pulled there lines up. Get it right next to the pier and everyone agrees it was at least a 7' Soupfin (brown, not a thresher and not a Sevengill either) I called it 6.5'. But just as we are about to drop a pier gaff it makes one last run under the pier and wraps up on a piling. Even 80lb mono is no match for the barnacles and the line frayed and snapped.

Even though we lost it, I would call it an amazing night. I have turned two non fishermen onto the sport.

No other bites but fed off the energy of the shark until 2am when we called it quits.

Huge schools of Mackeral with everyone catching good numbers. I managed about 18 just halfassing it with a sabiki when I was bored.

Can't wait to get back out there and hook into another shark