Since beginning of this blog, we have been so focused on snook that we have not gone shark fishing. So I thought since I had a few shark photos and adventures from last fall and winter, I would do a catch up blog for the sharks. You will have to forgive my reminiscing, but I did not want those toothy beauties to be left out. Hopefully, we will be back on the beach soon flinging a chunk of jack or lady from the beach and waiting for the fun to start. Now before you become concerned, Jack (Jack Crevalle) is an oily, bloody type of fish, not a person. And lady (Ladyfish), well that is another shark favorite, bloody fishy kind of fish, not an actual … well you get the point.
One year while planning for our annual vacation to the island, I had decided to buy a surf spinning rod and reel for an entry level into shark fishing. I had done my research on the pole, reel, line and terminal tackle including hooks, wire leader, swivels, weights, etc. and made my purchases. This setup was termed shark 1.0 as I really did not know what I was doing, only cobbling together different information from the internet. As with most things in life, you really have to just start somewhere and then iterate on the design as real life intrudes into all the fancy planning. I expected there would be version 1.1, 1.2, 2.0, etc. as I figured it out.
Shark 1.0 was launched from the beach near sunset, using a PVC pipe I found under the rental house (just laying there, not connected to plumbing or anything) as my rod holder dug far into the sand. Since my reel was simply a heavy duty version of a spinning reel, I had to loosen the drag while the pole was in the holder to allow any fish to take the bait and carry off the bait without much resistance to alert them about the danger in their mouths. Not long after throwing the cut chunk of fish into the evening incoming tide, my line began to creep slowly clicking the drag then ziiiiiing. Well, it gets tricky tightening down the drag when a shark is screaming line off your reel. Don’t tighten down enough and you get spooled (shark keeps going to the end of the line capacity on your reel and then breaks off), tighten down too much and something will break (line, leader, swivel, hook, pole, etc.). In this case as I watched the line leaving my reel, I could feel the shark’s tail slapping the braided line, and ping. Done. After this happened a couple of times I was off to rework the design for shark 1.1. I did catch a large sting ray, but no sharks. I did hook up with a black tip which went running and jumping, actually clearing the water each time he jumped, toward the horizon and I kind of panicked and locked down the drag too much too soon and straightened out the hook. My Father-in-law, Ralph Jones, had brought down a pole his buddy gave him for the trip which had heavy mono filament line on it, and he did manage to catch a nice shark with no break off. That was my clue as to the solution to my problem (well at least the one where the sharks were slapping my braided line and cutting me off).
Prior to my move down to the island, I did more research and added six feet of 90 lb. mono filament leader to deal with the tail swats, and added a heavier gauge hook. Shark 1.1 was a success and from that point forward, that same design was effective and I began to catch some sharks. However, the reel-drag-manual-adjustment approach was continuing to be a delicate dance. Jason was now on the scene with his extensive sharking experience and suggested I needed to get a “bait runner” reel. This type of reel has a setting to allow a fish take the bait and pull at a low drag level and then, when the fisherman flips a leaver, the full drag setting of the reel is engaged for the hook set and fight. I resisted for some weeks as I continued to catch sharks (oh yea and new rods and reels cost money), but really did begin to want the predictability of the “bait runner” option. Eventually, I broke down and bought a new rod and ordered a “bait runner” reel.
Shark 2.0 was launched. Still using 65 lb. test braid with 90 lb. mono shock leader and 90 lb.coated wire bite leader, I put some nice bull sharks on the beach (see the gallery of photos, and notice the rod and reel – kind of light weight for sharking). Yes, Jason was right as usual as this setup has made that initial hook set and transition to fighting the sharks much less stressful. Now that is not to say that has stopped the shark run that threatens to take all the line, adrenaline rush, burning muscles, following the shark down the beach, fist fight that is Shark Fishing. The bull shark at the heading of this blog was about 150 pounds or so. It was a real slug fest. Back and forth up and down the beach, running out a hundred or so yards, only to do it again and again when I got him close to the beach. It was a good workout and very rewarding battle with this toothy adversary. All sharks are returned to the ocean to fight another day. Dragging a big shark back into the water by the tail and holding on until they get revived is another type of adrenaline altogether.
David
One Comment
Teresa
That was awesome! You glow after you catch a shark.