I’ll be visiting IOP in early August for a family vacation. We’ll be staying near the southern end near Sullivan’s Inland and the beach inlet. I fish a lot of freahwater but it’s been years seen I’ve been on the beach fishing. I’d like to take my grandkids(10-12yrs old) fishing from the beach a couople of mornings while we’re there.
Could some of you please give me a idea of what I’ll need? And where to fish? Bait? Lb. test line? What size rod? Is it feasible to walk out to knee deep water and cast to some troughs? I don’t need to catch huge fish, my grandkids would just like to catch fish!
Whatever you have will work. It’s more about matching the fish you target to your available equipment. While oftentimes a surf rod helps get out to the fish, a lot of fish can be found plenty close to catch with a normal light spinning combo. In fact you see more people fishing out farther than necessary rather than not out far enough. 2 drop bottom rigs with 2-3 oz pyramid sinkers and shrimp or Fishbites will catch you pretty much anything. Check out Hadrell’s for bait and gear, and they’ll be able to give you tons of info and advice. I don’t do a lot of casting but sometimes a spoon or jig can do quite well in knee deep water. Good luck!
I don’t have anything over 6’6" medium action rods. I have a few baitcasters and some medium spinning reels. Would I be better to have a couple of 7’ers and a heavier reel or two? What pound test would be a mid range poundage? I’ll buy a reel to match the line!!
Here’s the thing about shark fishing. You’ll need a chunk of meat, a pyramid sinker (usually 3oz) and a leader with a heavy duty swivel on it. That makes what you cast fairly heavy. If you try to use braid and cast with a spinning combo, you will slice your fingers. I have cast lines for shark before, and it is very easy to catch them on 6-8/0 circle hooks with a piece of cut whiting or mullet. Just be careful not to cut your hands while casting. Maybe use a 2 fingered glove on your casting hand. Or use a casting rod with a conventional reel.
I agree. Line cuts every time with braid. I usually wade out knee deep and cast as far as possible to get past the breakers for my shark pole I use 30 Pound braid with a slider rig 3-4 Oz pyramid sinker then steel leader with hook any fresh bait I cut in chunks and usually always pick up a few decent sharks.
You can definitely cast for sharks, many different ways of tying the rigs I am no expert but the method I use may help you can use both braid and mono. I get 400 yds of 30-50 lb braid then have 50 feet of 50 lb mono tied to the mono by folks at haddrels. Then a sinker slide 4-5 ou. pyramid weight a red bead,then big swivel, then a 3ft metal leader and then swivel-lock with # 8 owner circle hook. Casting these big sets are difficult thats why braid is helpful as it casts further to put past breakers. How some people are casting whole whiting live is a mystery to me must be small ones. I just cut whiting in half and its allot easier to cast beyond breakers. Then you are not getting cut by braid. The mono is also elastic and helps reduce break offs when the fish start thrashing around. Like I said Im no expert-would love to hear from one of the shark boys on there set up from line to rig for the casting method, as Im still learning too. Please understand this is not a set for giant sharks .
Hi all, I’m new on the forum but have been reading for a couple of months. I’m new to the shark setup also but have my rig’s set up as follows: 550yds 50lb braid, 400lb swivel, 10’ 400lb mono copper crimped to 400lb swivel, copper crimped to 330lb aussie swivel, 20" of 170lb solid steel leader haywire twisted to aussie swivel and to 10/0 owner circle hook. Casts easy enough, though I am still getting used to the rod.
Walkman thanks for response allot of folks still learning -me being one. Honestly Im not sure what 400lb mono copper is please explain is this a top shot/rub leader? whats purpose? Is the 20" a inch or feet measurement Im guessing inch as 20 foot steel leader would be tough to cast. One more while I got you how long do you let shark run before you tighten drag and engage, Ive had a few drop bait on me, wondering if Im acting too quickly, Thanks for sharing.
Runbabyrun, sorry I should have specified but I had an aircraft to launch, so I was trying to get it all in. The copper crimp is the double barrel sleeve. The mono is fed through, looped around the swivel the fed in the the other side and crimped. Honestly I haven’t had a hookup yet, either it sits, or crabs take it, but I have been at breach inlet so I think that’s the problem…and yes its 20 inches
As far as letting the shark run, I’ve read that the drag should be set light so it can run with it as they usually grab it run and eat later, so maybe 100yds or so before tightening up the drag?
I’ve also seen a lot of people say the are catching blacktip pups and I wonder if they are sharpnose all the ones I have caught are sharpnose. As soon as I figure out how to post photos I’ll put one up. By the way what are you using for bait?
The sharks will eat anything even each other, I like the whiting as usually can catch but will use whatever available . I caught a fat blacktip pup about a week ago It was about 16 nches and fat and jumped a few times. If i were you I would try one of beaches out and check Mr whites video on how to read and it will help as to where on the beach. can find under Sir fish allot heading. I used to pretty well at the shark fishing but have seem to of lost my mojo for the bigger ones this summer thus far and am questioning everything I do , guess just a slump, I will get um next time just need opportunity, it will come. Im fixin to go nuts -I want to go fishing soooooooo bad.
My surf setup - if I am fishing by myself - is a Sahara 4000 with a double dropper to catch whiting and whatever. Then I put either the whole fish or half of it on a 10’6 St Croix Mojo /w a Sustain 10000fg. If I want to go heavier, I will cast out my Makaira 15SEA on the tuna popper.
The Sustain is spooled with 40lb power pro - no mono. I can cast it fine.
The two types of casted leaders that I use are this
Light leader - 4-5’ of 200lb mono ( I use soft steel as it’s smaller, and I have a spool of it for my 50w ) - attached to a barrell swivel and a coastlock. That goes to a 12" or so piece of single strand wire or cable - with an owner Super Muto 5/0 hook. I attach a 4oz spider weight bought from Sure Catch Tackle ( Facebook ) - and I can cast that a mile. - I will also put that leader on my 4000 for juvi sharks and rays as well.
Now - when I’m targeting larger sharks, casted from the surf, or have a whole whiting to cast out - the leader is
400lb mono ( 5’) attached to a barrel swivel & Coastlock - attached to single strand or wire with an owner super mutu 8/0 or 10/0 and the weight is either a 4 oz spider or 8 oz spider.
Iggy, Thanks so much for your help-your really appreciated videos and advice are wonderful your a class act always willing to give back to others,without being a condescending jag-off .Karma swings both ways, Im sensing a big red coming for you this fall.
Iggy, what is the weight and action of that mojo? I’m using a Penn Persuit II combo, 10’ medium fast and a Penn Conflict 8000 on a Daiwa Emcast 11’ heavy, fast. The Persuit rod is super easy to cast but that Emcast taking quite a bit of practice but a glove on my release hand has helped emmensly
