I am a second year shark fisher. I live in Kentucky and try to make it to Panama City Beach at least twice a year to shark fish. I am hoping to upgrade my tackle this year from the first pole and real i bought. My first was a Penn 330gt and a Jarvis Walker 6'6. I have been undesided between a Penn 10/0 or a 12/0 but i am goin to be ready for a big shark this year. I fish the pier in PCB and get alot of tips from the locals but it is hard to fish with them when u don't have the proper gear. Any help would be greatly appreciated
i would go with a 7 to 8 foot rod 80+ lbs and a 12/0 but that is just my opinion. i am sure you will get alot of good advice on here.
Thank you for the advise im not one to play around if i am going to do it i want to be able to do it right thx again
i would go with a 7 to 8 foot rod 80+ lbs and a 12/0 but that is just my opinion. i am sure you will get alot of good advice on here.
X2, I agree.
Thanks guys for the advice i am working on buying a nice 12/0 from sharkerfromst.pete now hoping to land a nice shark it a couple weeks. While my family is enjoying the beach in the morning, I am up on the pier catching some nice spanish for bait. Now I have a reel nice enough to run the whole thing. Or should i stick to cutting it into chunks ?
I like em whole, the crabs like to chew mine up pretty quick here. If I cut anything I just cut the bony part of the tail off my macks just for a lil scent trail. I usually use a double hook rig, Ive been known to put a mack on each 14/0 hook if theyre small 
. I usually prefer a medium size Ray over all others though, or half a huge one (bloody as hell and tough as nails!).
do what sandrayusmc said it will be your best bet for spanish macs. and if you can get some rays that will be even better. 
How do you tie you double hook rig. I am going to be new to that also i have tied a few single hooks. Another question should I do about 5 ft of cable then attach something for weight. Or should i attach the weight up were my line meets my leader? Also I i have some smaller cable leaders about 1/16 of an inch I am wanting to buy some 1/8 cable now that i will be going for larger shark. Is this cable to thick, and were can i get crimps that size ?
The longer rods give the advantage to the shark. Alot of guys that fish bridges use the longer rods to help move the shark away from the pylons. I would tell you to get a 6ft rod or a 6'6 rod. Go with a 80-100 class rod. Get a good used penn 12/0 or a avet 50. both can use braid to mono for more line on the spool. Then as far as your leader i Have found that most shark fisherman prefer a 30ft leader. Meaning 20ft of heavy mono to a 10ft section of cable or #19 wire.
If you have any questions about anything i would be glad to talk to you, you can email me at @sharkoutlet.com">info@sharkoutlet.com. At that time i will give you my personal cell.
Good luck with whatever rod and reel you choose.
Hey Sharkslayer13:
I have been a shark hunter all my life. I'll answer some of your questions. For the rod, I personally would go with a Harnell blank. They are no longer made so you will have to hunt for one. The leader: I would go with 3/32nds stainless steel aircraft cable and it should be about 30 ft long. I personally don't agree with chopping up a leader in small pieces. I would make it all one piece and 30 ft. long. For a sinker I use big weights. My sinkers are from 3 to 5 lbs each. I use them on a leader that is built for sliding sinkers. I tie my sinkers on to a swivel that slides on the leader and I use Romex house wire to tie them on.As for my line, I personally use Gudebrod Dacron line. I hate mono because of the stretch. Hooks are a problem also. I use Mustad Southern and Tuna 16/0 hooks with the needle eye. They are also no longer made so, I have to hunt them down wherever I can find them. Getting back to the Dacron line. I understand that they have a new dacron line out now. It is called JB. I don't know what that stands for but it is a line that can be spliced and it does come in a size that would fit on a 12/0 reel.
I know that is a lot to understand in your first lesson but I have been doing it for 45 years now and I have caught some big sharks and the stuff I have layed out here does work.
Norman Bateman
ncbateman1@aol.com
Thanks for all that. It is alot for a newbie to take in, but if that is what works i will do my best to figure it out. I dont get to shark fish alot but when I do, I want to to be successful that much more.
Well i am ready now i recieved my 12/0 in the mail. I bought it off here from sharkerfromst.pete seems to be super nice. I am ready to soak a good size ray now. I am less than a week away any additional tips ??