Good equipment in tip top shape and line in tip top shape is the key ingredient to catching the biggest strongest sharks from any shoreline of the planet.The right leader,the right line and the right rod and reel all combined correctly will help you catch the most powerful sharks that swim right off Florida's beaches -the hammerhead shark.If you are in land-based shark fishing to catch blacktip sharks on a spinning tackle ,well this post is not for you, but if you are in it to CATCH MONSTER SHARKS this is aimed directly at you-- so listen up!! In past years 130 lb test was typically the heaviest we used sometimes one of the guys would spool up a 14 or 16 with 150 lb or 200 lb test after getting spooled on a bridge in March or April and the angler would have the attitude I'm coming back to catch that SOB that took my line but then they would eventually go back to the standard 130 lb test becuase the heavier line was more difficult to find back in the day.Are we losing Monster sharks because our line is not quite as heavy as it should be??Should we be using 200 lb test or sticking to the standard 130 lb test on the big reels??This subject will have some saying i am wrong on this because many huge sharks have been caught on 130 in the past but I believe we have LEARNED more and become BETTER SHARKERS because of the internet and the sharing of information.Yes the SFSC has evolved and I am the head of the pack and I make suggestions to up EVERYONE'S game.Even the world of land-based shark fishing has changed and I feel responsuble to pass along the improvements that we have observed and tested.My opinion comes after many years in the game and much careful observation.
For those of you that fish only in the summer or the fall, or only part of the year 130 lb test line will work just fine because your line is in the water exposed to the elements much less and the line stays fresh and fray and nick free.For the anglers that are fishing often your line is constantly wearing down and that weakens your line and exposes you to break-offs and losing the prized fish like we have been losing for some time now(sorry fellas but it is true).Not every monster shark lost is lost because of lighter worn line, but I would say that those lost while fishing from BEACHES 90% are due to older worn 130 lb test.In 2011 I upgraded all my 14/0s and 16/0s to 200 lb test.The Three monster sharks I lost last year, one I lost to a splice failure,one to a straightened hook,and the other to a blown reel so I try and improve by learning from past mistakes ,,not one huge shark was lost because of line failure or weakness. I personally believe that in order to catch the 13 to 15 foot hammerhead sharks we should be using 200 lb test and checking it often and changing it for brand new line when we find it worn ,dry,or frayed .Line that is old and used will lose it's transparency and becomes opaque and takes on a whitish look so you should be feeling your line and looking for the weak spots that could mean heart break when trying to put a beast on the sand.We land-based shark fisherman expose our lines to the effects of sand,rocks,coral,pilings,crab traps,and other underwater debris we cannot even imagine and so the need for heavier more abrasion resistant BECOMES A MUST.Monofilament line I have said in the past is the way to go in this sport for it's abrasion resistance #1 and #2 for it's forgiveness and stretching rather then breaking .
Within the last 5 years the biggst baddest sharks caught in the world of land-based shark fishing have been caught by Team Rebel(Zach Miller) and there crew with a few giant hammerheads over 13 foot to there credit. I know where they fish and i know how they were able to catch such powerful hammerheads.The last giant hammer they caught was caught by Tyler and it took all the line to the knot and they held the angler down and the line stretched to the max but did not break and they slowly got the shark to turn.What happens is the 200 lb test is much harder to break off then the 130 lb test.You learn the power of the 200 when you get stuck on a piece of coral 300 yards out and you attempt to get it off the bottom to get your leader with hooks back. Me and two friends could not break it and I was forced to yak out at 4 am to try and retrieve my leader.That was proof enough to me of the advantages of 200 lb test over 130.The 200 is not for everyone nor am I suggesting that you should throw away your $100 worth of 130 lb test currently on your reel I'm simply saying that if your goal is to catch a huge hammer you should seriously consider what i have said here.In 2012 and beyond I know I'm ready to battle the BIGGEST of the BIG will you be ready when the moment comes?
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
This post deserves serious credit and I'm agreeing with Will's philosophy. First of all, experience and hooking many big sharks is the only way to come up with successful change for shark fishing from the beach when targeting MONSTERS, NOT ANYTHING UNDER 12FT. Reading will only take you so far. You have to feel the power and know what its like when the Sh#% hits the fan once you hook that monster. From my team's experiences last year, we moved over to 200lb mono on our biggest reels and DIDNT HAVE ONE LINE SNAP ALL YEAR (not counting blacktips running into your main line).
Before we switched to 200lb mono, we hooked and lost a few monsters:
1) We had a 12/0 with 100lb spooled bc we couldnt put enough pressure on the fish.
2) we hooked a large fish and had to lock down an 80w and snapped the 130lb mono during the fight.
3) we got spooled on a 50w with 100lb mono/ 100lb braid underneath.
Once we switched to 200lb mono we hooked and lost a few monsters for different reasons:
1) I hooked the biggest shark of my life and couldnt even lift up the rod without resting it on my teamates shoulder. Lost the shark after running on hard drag, but the LINE DIDNT SNAP, the hooks pulled.
2) Chris hooked a monster over the summer and was getting dumped on his 80w, lost the shark after 5 minutes of taking line, but the LINE DIDNT SNAP, the hooks pulled again.
The lessons learned are that since the change to 200lb mono, we havent broke a line. We fished the 2011 BHC hard and caught many sharks at some points on the same line without having time to change the line, and it didnt break even though it wasnt in top condition. The extra amount of pressure and abrasion that 200lb mono can take is much much more than 100,130,or 150lb mono.
As stated, those lines will work fine for the 5ft blacktips, 8 ft bulls and lemons, and 10ft tigers, but the real monsters of the deep will either spool those reels or snap the lines when you are finally forced to lock it down.
THEY CALL IT THE BIG HAMMER CHALLENGE FOR A REASON BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I agree Will but I will also say that if you are targeting that 1000lb plus 15-17ft shark 200 wont work. Ask TimmyT how that 200held up against the hammer he watched eat his bait and proceed to dump his international 130 loaded with 200braid and 200 mono. The mono gave up due to the sharks shear power/size and the water drag. I know you love your mono and rightfully so, but I believe if you even put 500yds of 200lb braid or heavier on the bottom of your 16/0s that emergency line could save you one day. I am now running 300lb braid on my big guns with mono top shot.
Also it seems with that much pressure hooks are being pulled. I am switching to Mustad Super marlins for tournaments (too pricey for me to fish with any bait at 19$ a hook) but I hope this helps prevent the hook pulling. Another possible suggestion may just be to switch to a large circle. If the hook is embedded in the corner of his mouth with the circle tip wrapped around the outside of jaw wouldn't that make it that much harder to "pull" like a J hook. Just some food for thought on that subject as I don't personally use circles right now.
WILLIAM---heavy mono is the answer to big sharks----last yr '' team reel fake'' did not have any cut offs----we are using 550lbs to 1000 lb mono sliding traces that are 30 yard plus and 150 yards on 200 lb topshot and 130 lb main line-----using straight 200lb mono is interesting---how much 200lb line William can you get on your 14/0----
i know the braid users swear by it---but its just a weak link-----200 braid vs 200lb mono just isn't a contest---the mono wins when its come to getting cut off everytime----
one of the things i have alway done is to pick out the best sharkers and copy them----jd hammer--william-- troy--matzy--are just a couple of sharker that come to mind and they all pretty much use heavy mono----
cut offs are probley the # one reason big sharks live to another day in this ''pull of war game'' we all play
sharkin ''heavy mono'' sonny
When I have the time and money to chase monster hammers and tigers, I will definitely spool my rigs with 200lb mono just so I know I won't lose a giant due to line, only problem is it cuts into reels line capacity a bit
I recently had 200lb destroyed on a small sandbar, so even then get on top of those sharks quickly!
If u use Penn's line capacity ratings and do the conversions a 14/0 will hold 305 yards of 200 lb bullbuster. A 16/0 407 yards of 200 lb bullbuster. And using the specs from fin nor there 130 will hold 519 of 200 lb bullbuster. I don't see losing half my line capacity to move from 130 to 200?????
If u use 200lbs test for a 14/0. Wouldnt that allow u to run out of line in the case of hooking a large hammer or tiger. By the way how much line does a 13 foot hammer take off the reel before u can turn him. With 50lbs of drag
That is my point 305 yards of line after all the talk about using the largest senators u can find for line capacity. Then cut it to 305. Or at best I could fit 500ish on my 130. It seems like at that point u could fill my avet trx with 250lb braid I think I'd get about 500 yards and fish the line closer to its full capacity.
Your line capacity with 200 lb test monofilament on a Penn 14/0 and 16/0 are greater then what minio1 has stated above.I believe minio1 is short by 150 yard or slightly more depending on how you spool your reels.Of course you will have less line on your reels with 200 lb test without a doubt and you should be ready adapt to making shorter drops when using the heavier lines so that you have enough line left to fight a large shark .If the places you fish has the occasional monster shark cruising close to the beach then the 200 lb test is more viable for you to use.You should have half a spool of line on your reel to let the fish eat the bait and to fight your fish once the bait has been deployed.
One of the greatest benefits of the 200 lb test is the ABRASION RESISTANCE once you hook that beast and the SHEER STRENGTH/STOPPING POWER of the 200 LB TEST line.Another difference is and only those that have gone through this can fully understand it---when using 200 lb test line you can have your buddies tie a rope to your harness or hold onto you any way they can ONCE THE 200 LB TEST IS ALL GONE FROM THE SPOOL AND TURN THE BEAST ,,,,,,the 200 lb test is incredibly difficult to break even by the largest of sharks .It will stretch and put a ton of pressure on the anglers and his budiies but if you can hang on then chances are you can turn your monster and begin to regain your line back.Another great benefit is the 200 lb test will eliminate the need to tie in to a second reel if getting spooled and actually shortens the fight time when fighting a MONSTER SHARK which greatly increases the odds in favor of the anglerand his Team.Try doing that with braid and you will see how much stretch you don't have and how fast your braid will POP vs the mono!!!Don't take my word for it,, talk to the best and you will get a consensus.
Lets say you are not someone that can afford to change out the line on your reel after fishing 5 0r 6 times and you have gotten some nicks and frays on your line ,,,which line do you believe will bust first when you finally hook YOUR MONSTER and those frays and nicks are present in your line????You guessed correctly if you chose the 130lb and the braid.We have learned this by fishing ourselves ,by watching, and by studying land-based shark fishing a very long time but it is only a recommendation if you are fishing in an area where you have very large hammers,tigers or possibly makos and IF YOU ARE IN AN AREA WHERE your line is prone to get frayed,nicked or cut off on some underwater obstructions.
The drag pressure you can apply with a Penn Senator will be less then many of the new lever drag reels but with those Senators and 200 lb test I personally feel confident of the ability to stop almost any shark that swims where we fish.Other factors come into play when trying to catch very large sharks and that includes how good your knots are,how strong and well made your leaders are and how much expierience the persons fishing with you have in leadering large sharks in the surf.The line you use is only one part of what is required to catch large sharks.
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
my friend caleb has been using straight 200 lb test on his 14/0 with an upgraded drag,, and let me tell u the drag on this reel is comparable to the newer leverdrags. when he told me how much drag it put down i doubted it but seeing it in action damn! although he hasnt hooked any large hammers he keeps it locked when engaging the reel out of freespool and the initial run of a large jewfish honestly tugged him 3-4 feet through the sand while he was sitting. the line capacity was never an issue and ive seen him make fairly long drops and still have a good amount of line left. and as for braid ive fought sharks on braid and i can tell you monofilament subdues a fish way quicker.
Penn 14/0 line capacity is 750 yards of 130(.044) 200lb is 1.7mm= .0669 inchs if u run the specs through any line calculator it comes out to 305 yards
Penn 16/0 rated at 1000 yards of 130(.044) 200lb is. 0669 run the numbers and u get 407
Same deal with the 130 u get 519
Not saying there no place for a reel spooled with 200lb but spooling all of ur reels with it might be a little over kill.
ive always gotten way over the capacity the company says the reels hold on my reels
I agree about being able to pack more line on reels than rated capacity but u would still be cutting your line capacity in half at best. My point is that for most sharkers out there will never be able to fish 200lb the way u would need to to reap the benefits of it. 130 is heavy line many many very large sharks have been caught on much less from the sand, bridges and peir.
From what I have seen a giant shark can be caught on any lb test line... just look up the line classes for world record tiger sharks... they're insane. The main difference is capacity vs. power. Are you the guy that can lock down and stomp a shark like a walk in the park or do you let the shark exude its energy with 1000's of yards of line without wearing you down. In my opinion everything is circumstantial as to how you spool your reels. But the main difference is the likelihood of a shark's survival brought in quickly or forever. I've seen with hammers particularly many different and strange outcomes. 11fters fought for over 2 hours swim off effortlessly and 9fters dead brought in super quick. And vice versa. Again it's all circumstantial. I say get out there and learn for yourself.
Just an average fisherman.