I don’t normally shark fish but we got out to the beach really early this past weekend so I figured I would give it a try. We had the smaller rods set up in a great trough, so I walked the rod out to the sand bar and gave it a fling. I was just using a whole mullet until we could catch some bait. Ended up catching some big whiting that became food for me instead of sharks. Every now and then I would check and readjust and most times I reeled in an empty hook. I was watching the rod constantly and there were no runs. A couple times I did see the rod tip pop but that’s it. How in the world was I losing so much bait? Baby sharks?
If the hook is below the weight you feel the weight of the weight on the line more than the free dangling bait below lots of sharks sit and chew for a second before turning and pulling if the hooks looks damaged this is likely the case. If your using J hooks lively baits wiggle off easily. I prefer to use a large circle hook like a 7-12 for surf shark fishing and loosen my drag enough that the rod won’t rip the holder out the ground but you still see it bend differently when the dragged is pulled. I try to keep close and a good eye on the rod, though I have seen my rod double over when I was all the way at the other groin and sprinted to it and when I was about equal distance from the rod as it was the water it hit the end of the spool and ripped over the rod holder and I caught it in about 2 ft of water and landed the 4ft black tip that had an 8ft attitude soon after.
Baby sharks for sure. I went yesterday and my cut mullet was chewed and chewed and chewed. Kids using small pieces were catching 12-13 inch sharks on every cast
You need to hold the line with your finger to feel the bite and you’ll start catching more. This time of year and in heavy currents it takes some luck to get something big enough to hooks itself on the beachfront. If you feel for the bites you’ll catch all the sharks you would ever want.
If they’re biting light would yall recommend a rig with the bait in front of the weight that way you have better sensitivity? I was running a basic mono->sputnik->wire leader->hook set up
I run a 4oz pyramid weight on a slider, tie a barrel swivel and then a mono leader. It lets the bait wander a bit but bites are easy to feel with the weight firmly on the bottom. I also set my drag very loose so that if a larger fish takes the bait he doesn’t feel the resistance of the weight
Yes for lite bites you want the weight at the end and hooks to be inline.
For the little ones my bread and butter rig with J’s is perfect:
Top swivel
4" #50 mono
2x j hooks 10" apart (feed mono loop thru eye then bring the hook through the loop and tighten)
4" mono
Pyramid sinker (Improved clinch)
A big enough fish will drag the hooks all the way to the sinker. This is one of the cheapest and fastest rigs to make. You can change hooks in seconds. To add weight if needed just use the same technique that you use on the hooks. I’ve never had a fish break a leader on me only oysters.
In the surf, I only use weight after hook, drop rig. Single and double. From Whiting to Bull Reds, always a drop rig, IN THE SURF. Form a boat or the bank of a river where the current is consistent a slider/slip rig works great. The current keeps the bait in line and tight. In the surf though, not so much. The current running parallel, the waves coming in and out moves a slip rig around alot. Shortening your leaders down to 4"-6" will reduce the movement. As far as “detecting” the bite…? My rods stay in the spikes. I’ve never had a problem “knowing” when even a 6" Whiting knocks the CRAP out of my rigs. Also the amount of weight you have is key to detecting bites. Try to use the least amount possible. If your not really watching a rod, with lighter weights, even a small fish can knock slack in your line. With too much they won’t move it, you look up, line is still tight, bait…gone. So for me, drop rigs and pyramids.
Edit: I realize this post is about losing shark bait, my guess would be small sharks and Blues. Even on your shark rigs, scale down on hook/bait size. Try a 1"-2" chunk on a strong 6/0 circle. Atleast you could hook some of those small sharks and Blues.
Caught this tiny Pomp couple weeks ago, knew right away when it hit. Hooked itself with the rod in the spike.
“There’s a fine line between fishing and standing in the surf like an idiot.”
For the bull reds, do you just use a surgeon knot for the dropper rigs? Also, how thick of a leader do you use for that? Thanks.
No surgeon knots; 25lb. Andes mono main line, swivel, 30" of 50lb mono rub leader, 60lb snap swivel, 12"-14" 60-80lb steel cable pre-made single drop with a 6/0-8/0 3x strong circle, 4-6oz pyramid. I prefer off the shelf rigs, they tie on fast. I DO NOT like the Hurricane brand. They have cheap, flimsy swivels!
Main line knot is an Improved Clinch. The knots on the rub leader (2) I use Grinner knots.
For the bull reds, do you just use a surgeon knot for the dropper rigs? Also, how thick of a leader do you use for that? Thanks.
No surgeon knots; 25lb. Andes mono main line, swivel, 30" of 50lb mono rub leader, 60lb snap swivel, 12"-14" 60-80lb steel cable pre-made single drop with a 6/0-8/0 3x strong circle, 4-6oz pyramid. I prefer off the shelf rigs, they tie on fast. I DO NOT like the Hurricane brand. They have cheap, flimsy swivels!
Main line knot is an Improved Clinch. The knots on the rub leader (2) I use Grinner knots.
Just out of curiosity, what is the main advantage of a single drop? Is it just a better presentation of bait?
Fishing with chunk bait or crab halves, two get all tangled up. I only use this rig in the fall months, end of Sept. to Dec. Sometimes in the winter, targeting larger Rays. The rest of the time, double mono drops, smaller hooks, fresh shrimp…I know…such a wennie. [:I]
