Curious on different opinions for size hooks when shark fishing . The bait is small live whiting 4 to 6 inches just above the dorsal. Right now using straight shank hooks, wouldn’t I better of with maybe a circle type as well ?
Wicked fishing
Try these: http://www.lindgren-pitman.com/p-275-carbon-steel-160-black-circle-hook-10-offset-point-10-pack.aspx
My cousin and I have been using them for a couple years with great success. Can’t remember if they are the 16/0 or the 18/0. Extremely strong hooks.
Bowtech Allegiance
Ruger M77 .270
Thanks Dippin I will definitely check them out.
Wicked fishing
It honestly all depends on the size shark your going for. The lindgren pitmans are great hooks for bigger fish; bulls, tigers, hammerheads. But if your going for 6ft. blacktips then you would more realistically want something like a 10-12/0 Gamakatsu Super Nautilus Circle Hook (however these get really pricey!) or something in that vicinity. Hooks for sharks dont need to be to complicated, just make sure there strong and sharp (sharpen all your hooks straight out of the box) and circles are preferred as I assume you intend to release the fish. Hope this helped! Good fishing, and tight lines!
Yep mostly catch and release with all my fish but on occasion the wife likes a good shark steak, appreciate the info thought I was going a little smaller than need be but I was close. Hadderals tomorrow for sure and Botany Saturday!
Wicked fishing
I use 5/0 or 7/0 owner circle hooks and 80lb test mono leader on a Carolina rig. The sharks aren’t leader shy but this rig catches redfish and black drum also. The sharks I catch aren’t really the big boys but they are a lot of fun!!!
Dorado II
Carolina Skiff 25DLV
I like the 7/0 Owner Demon circle hooks.
Sometimes I will use a “J” hook. If I am getting bait stolen a lot, I’ll switch to them, but I prefer the laziness of a circle hook. There is less gut hooking with the circles too.
Semper Fi
18’ Sterling
115 Yamaha
Big Ugly Homemade Blue Push Pole
Thanks Guys! Dorado I would be happy with that.
Wicked fishing
I fish with a cheap 7/0 mustad. Been fishing for them for years and never had one swallow it. No reason to spend big money on a hook for a non meat fish. IMO. Good luck with the sharks. Lot of fun!
Dorado that’s a heck of a nice boat you got there, plenty of room. What is it?
Wicked fishing
Hey thanks wicked fishing. It’s a Carolina Skiff 25DLV. I really enjoy it. Say you take 4 or 5 people fishing it never really gets crowded. You can actually walk around in it. As simple as that seems that is the part I love the most.
Dorado II
Carolina Skiff 25DLV
100 percent agree with that, I think maybe that’s why I have been on this surf fishing kick the last few weeks instead of using my 17 cc so much easier when you have room.
Wicked fishing
Non offset circle hook in the size of your choice is my recommendation
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.ralphphillipsinshore.com | www.summervillesaltwateranglers.com
I’ve got a sharking trip Monday and I will be using 6/0 Penns with 40 lb mono attached to 10’ of 200 lb mono leader, 4’ of 125# single strand cable with two 9/0 or 10/0 J hooks, one about a foot behind the other. I’ll be using big chunks of the 15 and 20 lb barracudas I caught today along with a mess of Bonita we have stockpiled. If I’m going to catch a toothy fish, I want to be sure I can stick a hook in him hard. I’ve had big nurses, lemons, spinners, goliath groupers, etc all bend 7/0 Mustad J hooks like nobody’s business.
The LP hooks are what we use on our kayaked baits for Land based shark fishing. If you don’t want to order them Atlantic Big Game and Tackle has them for 1.00 ea. Have not had any bend or break on lemons over 8ft and goliaths up to 350lbs. Even on my casted surf rigs typically use an Eagle Claw 12/0 L2004, wide gap and cuts down on missed hook ups. Circles can be a bit difficult at times because you must let the shark eat. Apply drag after initial run, but better than gut hooking one on a J and having to kill one for no reason.
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If fishing when/where sand tigers are near, a small PVC piece should be added to your wire bite section to create a “blocker” rig. Prevents them from being gut hooked as they the main local species that inhales its food and are gut hooked quite frequently.
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Stan the PVC deal is a great idea, I actually was doing some research on your Shark fishing. it looks to a pretty neat deal.
Wicked fishing
It is, just wish I had more people ready to go more often! Ive been showing a few people what I know, granted I am new I spent from september till now researching and putting it to use. I am not vet, but we have sharks to show for our efforts 
Oh and a roofrack since folly is not an ideal beach
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Going to piggy back on this a bit. I’ve been getting into basic shark fishing from the beach and am having a hard time with keeping my bait. So far ive been using 7/0 circle hooks. I’ve tried baiting through the mouth, the back, and towards the tail section. I almost always get bit off below or around the hook. Usually i use 6inch or so sized whiting or croaker. Any suggestions? Also, if anybody is doing any big time sharking from the beach anytime soon I’d love to be an eager learning observer and helper, ha.
Jagads, I will be away for Firefly but the weekend of the 29th I am trying to plan a trip down to edisto and the backup plan would be fishing Sully’s. You are more than welcome to come. We have 2 kayaks and anywhere from 30w’s to 80ws. For casted baits we all use battle 8000’s and a spinfisher 10500v. My suggestion is bump up to a 9/0-12/0 eagle claw, mustads have tiny gaps. Use chunked baits. Make that whiting into 3-6 baits depending on its size. We have caught a bunch of reds while shark fishing too. Just make sure you have at 8"-12" of bite leader for casted rigs with a good 5-6’ of 200lb mono or heavier behind it. 100lb will get shredded by a sharks skin in no time.
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