I was asked this on pierandsurf.com and had no answers.
Indiana boy on my way down to Florida in a week to get my feet wet with some shark fishing. I've done tons of research and here is my gear and what i plan on doing. im new to saltwater fishing and trying the best i can, so help is very much appreciated.
-ROD- PENN MARINER 6' 30-80# ROD STAND-UP
-Reel- Penn jig master 500L
-Line- 300 yards connected to 100 yards of 65lb power braid (400 yards of 65lb power braid)
-Leader/top shot-http://www.ebay.com/itm/16-Shark-Fishing-Leader-Rig-16-0-MUSTAD-480lb-SS-Cable-Big-Game-Tuna-Marlin-16-/271133170627?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f20cbdbc3
-weight- 4oz sinker...i was going to make a spider weight but i don't have the time. and 4oz is as big as i can find in Indiana.
Ill be fishing between lovers key and fort myers beach. ill be dropping my bait 150 yards out (12 FOW). the jig master has 15 pounds max drag. ill have it set at 5lb until i get a bit. while the shark is on its first run ill slowly tighten down to max drag.
i understand the jig master is not ideal for sharks by any means but ill only be using it one week a year and its what i could afford. I read tons of reviews on it and many people have caught sharks on them so im hoping it will work for me.
i want a 4-6 foot shark... particularly a blacktop. but i really have no idea at all what im doing after hours and hours of research.(sad i know) so please don't just read and move on. everyone on this forum has more knowledge than me.and what might seem like common knowledge, i probably don't know. up north i catch pike and salmon but nothing over 20lb.
finally i will be fishing high tide for a week using cut bonita from a bait store or lady fish i catch. Is it likely i will hook up with a shark in this period of time given time of year/location/ and gear?
thank you very much for your time.
I've Had My Original Penn Jigmaster 500 Since I Was A Kid Back In The Early 80's, Doesnt Work Now But It Should Hold Up Sharks Up To 6ft, & On The West Coast They Get Blacktips Bigger Than 6ft, So You Should Be O.K. 
Sounds pretty good to me, although my only critique would be on your hookup. Instead of slowly tightening the drag, I would do it as quickly as possible. When you get the drag locked down, start running up the beach to set the hook. Just my $0.02 Good luck!
depending on the tide and wave strength you might want to pick up some heaver weights to hold you line out. other wise it will just keep getting washed up to shore.
Sounds pretty good to me, although my only critique would be on your hookup. Instead of slowly tightening the drag, I would do it as quickly as possible. When you get the drag locked down, start running up the beach to set the hook. Just my $0.02 Good luck!
He is using circle hooks though.
The only thing I would change would be the reel. I understand you are on a budget, but I'd look for a used 9/0 instead. You can find them for fairly cheap on ebay.
Yeah I realize that, but from my experience I have lost sharks from slowly tightening my drag, I always use speed and force and it seems to work better for me. To each their own I guess... Just trying to help out.
I guess when you think about it, it would be kind of hard tightening the drag a spinning reel quickly.
I guess my main concern will be the amount of line I have left if I'm 100-150 yards off shore.ill have about 250-300 yards left. do sharks typically pull that much drag if it's set to 15 pounds?
also in regards to Max drag specs from penn, are those numbers with a full spool or near empty? and with a near empty spool does a 15 pound drag turn into say 60lb drag?(14x4)
and I may wire some weights together. how may onces are your weights?
for longer drops (150yrds +) look up the mouse trap effect. It works best with mono though. i've been using it with 200+ yard drops and setting my reel at 5-7lb of drag using circle hooks. usually im on the rod before it starts pulling drag but let it run for a count to 5 then tighten to drag down to around 16lbs ( a full turn from the pre-set) and then adjust from there. solid hook up 4 out of 4 hits so far. all my others have been on cast baits no more than 100yards out (walk on to the first bar and heave it 50-60 yards into the gut) you'd be surprised at how many sharks are cruising the first gut/bar around sunset.
I guess my main concern will be the amount of line I have left if I'm 100-150 yards off shore.ill have about 250-300 yards left. do sharks typically pull that much drag if it's set to 15 pounds?
also in regards to Max drag specs from penn, are those numbers with a full spool or near empty? and with a near empty spool does a 15 pound drag turn into say 60lb drag?(14x4)
and I may wire some weights together. how may onces are your weights?
15lb full spool will probably be around 25-28 max at 1/3 spool. i land big sand bars with less than 300 yards of 30lb mono and 12-13lbs of drag.
I guess my main concern will be the amount of line I have left if I'm 100-150 yards off shore.ill have about 250-300 yards left. do sharks typically pull that much drag if it's set to 15 pounds?
also in regards to Max drag specs from penn, are those numbers with a full spool or near empty? and with a near empty spool does a 15 pound drag turn into say 60lb drag?(14x4)
and I may wire some weights together. how may onces are your weights?
15lb full spool will probably be around 25-28 max at 1/3 spool. i land big sand bars with less than 300 yards of 30lb mono and 12-13lbs of drag.
very good info. how far out are you fishing and how deep.
I guess my main concern will be the amount of line I have left if I'm 100-150 yards off shore.ill have about 250-300 yards left. do sharks typically pull that much drag if it's set to 15 pounds?
also in regards to Max drag specs from penn, are those numbers with a full spool or near empty? and with a near empty spool does a 15 pound drag turn into say 60lb drag?(14x4)
and I may wire some weights together. how may onces are your weights?
15lb full spool will probably be around 25-28 max at 1/3 spool. i land big sand bars with less than 300 yards of 30lb mono and 12-13lbs of drag.
very good info. how far out are you fishing and how deep.
for longer drops (150yrds +) look up the mouse trap effect. It works best with mono though. i've been using it with 200+ yard drops and setting my reel at 5-7lb of drag using circle hooks. usually im on the rod before it starts pulling drag but let it run for a count to 5 then tighten to drag down to around 16lbs ( a full turn from the pre-set) and then adjust from there. solid hook up 4 out of 4 hits so far. all my others have been on cast baits no more than 100yards out (walk on to the first bar and heave it 50-60 yards into the gut) you'd be surprised at how many sharks are cruising the first gut/bar around sunset.
You should be alright with the info here so far But trust me, trial and error will be your best teacher but you gotta start somewhere. Is your cable coated? If not, you may want to wrap it in electrical tape. Some do some dont, I think it helps so I do (cuts down on the electrical signature.) Also, if you're using Bonito you may wanna pantyhose it if the crabs and pinfish tear it up quickly. A bonito wont last a half hour in my spot without pantyhose. Doesnt bother the Sharks and the crabs and pinfish have a hard time wrecking your bait.
You should be alright with the info here so far
fantastic info!!!
the leader is coated... i read somewhere you should wrap the top half of your hook too for. but in all the pictures i see, most people don't practice this.
You're fishing my old turf , It's GREAT there, Lover's Key [before they charged to go in] always had alot of "activity" along that beach , low pressure [practically ZERO]alot of times I was IT, & lots of all kinds of fish ,you should do OK
IF you can; take along a spinning or casting set ups 20# & up Iused PENN8500SS reel / 7'Tornado 20#custom built on UGLY STIK Blank& Casting: 6'SNOOK ASSASSIN 20#custom tied on UGLY STIK Blank /Ambassaduer6500Ci or SHIMANO CALCUTTA reels
Tornado 50/80# custom /PENN 309M/65powerprobraid& 80BigGamefor sharks wstingray wing ,150#braided stainless leaders &8/0 hooks
If you can get some RAPALA HUSKY JERKS BLUE/CHROME /ORANGEBELLY and some 1-1/2OZ Rat-L-Traps RED/WHITE, DO IT!!! the Husky Jerks are killer SNOOK plugs, just work them parallel to the beach , let them suspend,
Cast it out reel it in a little; then when it's down under & suspending ;JERK it , let it sit/ jerk it/ let it sit etc, etc
the RAT-L-Traps, cast & reel SHARKS WILL hit it ,
GOOD LUCK
not sure how the surf is there but i'd be carful with 150lb cable. i went to 250lb coated just because it almost never kinks or wraps around itself and knots up. i had problem with 90-150lb doing this in the surf in California. just a heads up.