Around the New Year is the Black Tip Bite Still On in South West Florida???
In late December Fishing is always a priority on one of my yearly scheduled trips to see family South of Sarasota Florida. My bro and I always throw the cast net and tend to get smallish size live mullet (10-12 inches.) I was thinking of free-lining one of these medium small size mullet under a cork for Black Tips (or just use a stout fish finder rig.) I'd probably shark fish off of a second rod while fishing for trout in the kayak. I know I'll have to be careful to set the drag just right.
I think I may be able to hook into a monster snook (or Tarpon during the summer visit) with the live mullet.
Any chance the Black Tips are still in the area in late December/January???
http://southfloridasharkclub.com/foro/viewforum.php?f=32&start=225
Look through the shark fishing reports from 2011 in dec/jan. 
http://southfloridasharkclub.com/foro/viewforum.php?f=32&start=225
Look through the shark fishing reports from 2011 in dec/jan.
That was a good idea. I scoured through them. Some reports where helpful, but I've noticed since joining SFSC that many/most guys don't even post their general location. So it's hard to tell if a guys catch is East Coast, West Coast, North or Panhandle ... I fully expect guys to NOT give the specifics about where their secret spots are, but I'm not sure why guys are shy about letting people know generally where they are.
I'm on the West Coast just north of the Skyway, I catch Tippers all winter just not as many as summer, I usually get more Sandbar Sharks than anything else. Live Mullet should do ya just fine. I like using dead Mullet, I bet live you would do pretty well. Be sure to post up a report 
.
I'm on the West Coast just north of the Skyway, I catch Tippers all winter just not as many as summer, I usually get more Sandbar Sharks than anything else. Live Mullet should do ya just fine. I like using dead Mullet, I bet live you would do pretty well. Be sure to post up a report
Thank you very much for the help!!!
2 questions:
-How far past the last bar (on the Gulf) to you drop you bait for S. West Coast Winter Black Tip or Sand Bar?
-Have you ever fished for BT in the ICW?
(I know the ICW isn't the best, but thought I could set a rod out while fishing for other species too.)
I fish 3 rods on the beach. 14/0, 12/0, and a Trinadad 50. 14/0 goes as far as I dare to go at the time 300-400ish yards, the 12/0 goes 200-300yds and the Trinadad goes 50-150yds. I've caught some Tippers in the ICW but usually by accident while Tarpon fishing. Catch alot of smaller Sharks in ICW though, Sharpnose, Bonnetheads and small stuff, usually no bigger than 3ft or so but I'm sure there is Bulls wandering around in there i just don't usually meet up with them or get bitten off in a hurry if I do run into them. When in doubt it doesn't hurt to put a big rod out, maybe a big Ray show up and land you a bunch of sharkbait all at once.
Sandrayusmc - Thx so much for the help! I don't have any big shark gear right now, just a 6/0. Still waiting to land my first "Real" shark. If BTs are more prevalent and easier to catch, then I want to target them. If for late December it's the Sandbars, then I'll go for them. I think all i have is 550-600 yards on my 6/0 (500yards of 100# braid, plus mono topshot.) So I wanna keep those drops close to 200-250 yards. In the winter I don't think I'll have as big a chance of getting spooled though.
Thanks for all the info and help!
one of my go to baits in winter for blacktips is a big live pinfish or mullet under a balloon. but almost any cut bait will get u a winter sandbar
Juice0425,
Thanks for the input on both. Around a local dock area I've got acces to pinfish so big you could mount one. I may try one for bait.
How far out do you drop your baits in the winter?
wll around here we have two cuts one runs out around 75 yds always put a bait there and then we have one about 220-250 yds then the big guns go 300-400. most time first rod to go off is the short drop but sharks tend to be in the 5-6 ft range there. i have seen large sharks run close to beach at night though. just a input go out late at night during tide change and go spotlighting you will be suprised where you see sharks and how close they are.
Juice- Thx so much! All you've shared is very helpful. I'm still getting the feel of it. Every bit of solid info guys are sharing is getting noted and gonna be put to good use! Thx very much!
If you use live mullet, put a weight on your hook like a 1oz, with a 1 inch piece of mono.
This will slow the mullet down alot and make it easy to get hit.
If you catch sail catfish use those they work great.
Where do you hook your live bait? Through lip, eyes, tail ... ?
on the live bait I normally cut the tail off, just the fins not the meat.
Ive used both live pinfish make sure decent size live mullet or like juice said usening the cut mullet under balloon. Ive caught them in that area in the winter just alil harder to come by. But you cant catch anything if you dont put a bait in the water