I know I'm opening up a very old topic,and I've read information on various websites, but I found this forum and after reading decided to join. The folks here seem just as serious about having fun as they do about protecting the species they catch. So here's my story.
I get down to South Florida once a year, like most tourists. I live in the South Carolina , specifically Clemson....Go Tigers! Yeah I know, I'm asking for help and then lead with that, but IF any of you here find yourselves needing assistance with accommodations or parking for a game in Clemson I can probably help.
Okay back to fishing.
For the past few years I have been very interested in shark fishing and make a lousy attempt at it each year when my family and I go to Sanibel.
Just a heavy spinning reel is all I have used, and I paddleboard my bait out and drop it off in an ocean that seems devoid of all sea life.
On the beach fishing during the day with smaller rods, I get the usual species just goofing around with shrimp and small cut bait.
So in my attempt to fish for shark I usually wait till after 5 or at least until no one is actively swimming in the area.
My question is this. I'd like to buy a rod and reel that is better equipped for shark fishing. I've gotten very confused about what is actually practical for my needs.....especially since I haven't caught a shark yet. My future plan is go once every other month to the South Carolina coast or Georgia Coast and fish there after this summer.
I obviously know very little about shark fishing aside from what I read online. Any direction you guys could offer in the way of reel and rod size along with line, would be appreciated. Also any tips regarding proper etiquette when shark fishing from the beach at night.
Many Thanks
I use heavy spinning when I'm targeting blacktips or table bonnies. I always just cast it out, you might be using the wrong bait for the area you're fishing. Most my casted baits are either mullet or smaller jacks. Sometimes I use a sliding weight or stationary weight. I build my casting leaders so I can rig either way. If fishing during night at high tide I don't put my casted bait real far. Hope this might help ya.
Rob
Hey man, good to see another SC fisherman on this board. Here's a basic run down on how I fish in SC, if you have any more questions, feel free to PM me.
I live in Charleston, so most of my fishing efforts are based on beaches nearby. When I'm fishing the beaches for blacktips, my #1 bait is a live whiting, or a dead on that's cut in half. Any other live bait works (ladyfish, bluefish, etc.) but I find whiting most accessible and most productive. Run a large circle hook through it, wade as far as you can, and cast. I also drop baits with a kayak but this really isn't necessary with a spinning rod. Find a section of beach that looks like it has structure (troughs, sandbars, or dropoffs) to fish. It helps to do your scouting at low tide, and then fish the tide up. The most important aspect of a shark spot, however, is finding one devoid of people, or at least one without swimmers.
As far as what rods you need, I fish large 8000 size spinning rods with 50lb braid or small conventional reels for blacktips. The Penn Senator 4/0 is a great beginner conventional setup and can handle pretty much anything that would eat a whiting in SC. Braid is almost a must have for a lot of our beaches because the tides can start ripping and the larger diameter of heavy mono quickly gets whisked to the side without excessive weight.
And again, etiquette is simple: fish where there are no people and you shouldn't have any problems.
Hope this helps,
Creed
Hey man, good to see another SC fisherman on this board. Here's a basic run down on how I fish in SC, if you have any more questions, feel free to PM me.
I live in Charleston, so most of my fishing efforts are based on beaches nearby. When I'm fishing the beaches for blacktips, my #1 bait is a live whiting, or a dead on that's cut in half. Any other live bait works (ladyfish, bluefish, etc.) but I find whiting most accessible and most productive. Run a large circle hook through it, wade as far as you can, and cast. I also drop baits with a kayak but this really isn't necessary with a spinning rod. Find a section of beach that looks like it has structure (troughs, sandbars, or dropoffs) to fish. It helps to do your scouting at low tide, and then fish the tide up. The most important aspect of a shark spot, however, is finding one devoid of people, or at least one without swimmers.
As far as what rods you need, I fish large 8000 size spinning rods with 50lb braid or small conventional reels for blacktips. The Penn Senator 4/0 is a great beginner conventional setup and can handle pretty much anything that would eat a whiting in SC. Braid is almost a must have for a lot of our beaches because the tides can start ripping and the larger diameter of heavy mono quickly gets whisked to the side without excessive weight.
And again, etiquette is simple: fish where there are no people and you shouldn't have any problems.
Hope this helps,
Creed
I use heavy spinning when I'm targeting blacktips or table bonnies. I always just cast it out, you might be using the wrong bait for the area you're fishing. Most my casted baits are either mullet or smaller jacks. Sometimes I use a sliding weight or stationary weight. I build my casting leaders so I can rig either way. If fishing during night at high tide I don't put my casted bait real far. Hope this might help ya.
Rob
Hay Thanks for your help. For the amount of time I have to fish is it practical to buy the necessary crimping items and wire at this point or just buy pre-made. To that end how long does the leader need to be and wire or cable need to be, and what size hook. Lets say for argument sake i will be paddling my bait out about 100yds or so. Is that even smart to do with a spinning reel?
You'll save money in the long run if you build them yourself,you can make several leaders pretty cheap once you get everything you need. I use eagle claw 12/0 for casted baits on my spinning gear. My leaders are about 7ft long. It's built this way, 4/0 roscoe swivel, 500lb LP mono, another 4/0 roscoe swivel slides on this, then a 6/0 rosco swivel, and 18"-24" cable. At the top of the heavy mono I'll add a small piece of wire bent to a J, I'll rest my baited hook on it.That way it makes it easy to cast, basically turns a 7ft leader to 3or4ft leader. I use a zip tie to attach my weight to either the sliding swivel or to the 6/0 swivel, normally use a 8oz sinker. Then just cast it out, never had a need to yak spinning gear out this way.
Rob
Crimping is great but save $$ and time. Just twist some single strand and you will be just fine. Works anywhere from snook, tarpon jacks up to Hammer/Tigers. Good luck.
TEAM GETCHA GETCHA SHARKON
How big is your spinning reel? I have two 8500 sized reels with 500 yards of line on them that I usually take out 200 yards on Sanibel. This time of year there are a lot of Spinners, Sandbars, and Blacktips around so a large spinning reel should be able to stop any of those species.