I so enjoy fishing the beaches around Volusia and Flagler county, there are just nearly no other shark fishermen in the area. Which makes landing these fish even more enjoyable when theres a crowd to witness and have slack jaws lol
For the past MONTH fishing has been, to say the least, horrible. I couldn't catch any Pompano or Whiting, and could barely hook a few Bluefish for bait. It was extremely slow after the big storm that came through and completely chopped up the surf. It wasn't until this recent front did things pick back up finally. I'm even beginning to see small schools of mullet near the shoreline finally.
Tuesday I went out to Highbridge beach access close to the Volusia/Flagler county line and set up a 4 rod spread, 2 bait rigs and 2 Penn Senator 6/0's rigged for shark. I even brought down my 12/0 due to before the huge fishing draught hooking up to a 200+ Bull Shark on my 6/0 which was set up for Average Sized Blacktips and having the most hellacious time fighting it. After over 2 hrs of fighting it on 50 lb Test it finally snapped THE HOOK in half. Needless to say, I've never been so disappointed.
So I had my 4 rod spread and I was fishing the outgoing tide in the middle of the day. I caught a few nice sized Bluefish that I then hooked up to the Senators and Swam them out to the center of the trough. The beach in this location is nice due to there being a good solid drop before the sandbar so I rarely take them further. After having the baits out for around 2 hours, finally I was getting pickups. Twice I failed to get a solid hook set and began to get frustrated. I swam out a fresh Bluefish anchored by a brick and waited only 2 minutes when it got picked up yet again. I let it run, slung the rod over my shoulder andwhipped the rod back as hard as I could 3 times. It finally sunk in and I strapped on my harness for what would turn out to be a 45 minute fight. I knew it was big from the fight, close to 6 feet was my guess. When it began to get tired I handed my rod to a tourist on the beach and ran out into the water to drag him in. It wasnt until I was in the water did I realize this wasn't an average sized Blacktip. I grabbed the thick tail and fought against its thrashing as I muscled him up the beach. That was when I saw the grand scheme of its size.
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6Ft, 5In. 147 lbs - Tagged and released
Thats my new personal best Blacktip, and an experience never to be forgotten. However, since then fishing has once again come to a stand still. It's back to wet lines and no fish.
That is an awesome tipper. I have actually not caught one yet. I hope to land one like that on spinning gear soon!
In the grand scheme of things, you may want to consider some other means of getting you bait out into the area that the sharks inhabit. I know that sharkers are Macho but you may become a statsic if you continue to swim your baits out. You might get away with it a hundred times or only the next two times. Give it some thought.
The man is right ; it might not happen ;but if it does you won't like it.....
I thought it was funny too back in '76 when Ifirst came to Florida& DAYTONA BEACH, swimming ,at full moon &,high tide , out 'there" No I didn't Get "IT"
But I got chewed out by folks that didn't want me getting hurt .
My Buddy Pete & I DID see "Something " one day while we were out a long way, I posted the story in another thread
Nice Tipper!
Try walking out as far as you can then cast your baits out.
I've caught tippers on baits so small you would think I'm Snapper fishing.
Hey man, I just looked back over this post and see that I forgot to say, Nice tipper!
Believe me, I always consider the possibilities. I do have a kayak at my disposal but the past few months around Ormond Beach have only produced surf not suitable to 'yak baits out. Also I almost never take baits past the sandbar, I'm not out fishing for man eaters. I only fish the trough and that's it. If there was another way to take baits out without placing my self in danger I'd do it. But the combination of all the hassle of bringing a kayak (since most of the time I fish by myself) and the idea of getting pounded by the surf and possibly injuring myself just to take a bait out 20 yards just makes things easier if I leave it behind. But trust me, on days where the surf is much more calm (and so far this year its only been that way only 2 or 3 times I've gone to the beach) I'll take the yak. In the meantime I'll swim baits out but I ALWAYS keep the baits over my head and out of the water until I'm ready to drop it. But thanks to all for the concern!!! 
big black tip for sure. we have a bunch in the 5ft range up here now, a pic with a 6ft plus model would be cool.
some nice waves you got too.
Nice Tipper and yeah that area discourages shark fishing from beaches so finding other sharkers may be difficult but don't give up we will be fighting to overturn the NO SHARK FISHING BAN in Volusia County within the next couple of years.Also consider what shark ark said don't become a statistic' consider you are swimming in the SHARK ATTACK CAPITAL of the world.Volusia county is a plac with high surf most of the year so PLEASE consider a kayak so you can continue catching more tippers.Be safe.
SOUTH FLORIDA SHARK CLUB -President SFSC-Founding Member est 1983 SFSC-Website Administrator BIG HAMMER SHARK TOURNAMENT -Founder Rene Memorial Sharkathon -Founder NMFS Shark Tagger
Yeah Bud think about WHERE you are ; and WHAT is in that water with you besides the tippers;
people would be amazed if they knew just how close in 'they' ALL come .....just to prove it to myself & a couple others I've taken a huge piece of Stingray wing & walked barely waist high, & Lobbed it on a custom built 80#-+ outfit ......Hooked up everytime landed BIG Nursies, but lost some real heavy fish that made screaming runs
So......there you have it
That Beach is nice there , & DAYTONA, always loved it too ....changed alot since the 1st time I was there.
We fished there inthe 70s
Ok lol guys. I posted a response to all your comments in a reply, I have reasons to why I swim baits out. cchhhiilllllll