Hello,
I’ve started reading about Bonnetheads on fly and now I’m hooked! I’ve caught one once on cut bait and that sucker fought like a freight train. So my question is where do people do this and when. I’ve heard about sharks coming up pretty shallow in the surf in evening but most of the reports of catching them are on the flats. Any advise is appreciated!
17’ Mako
flats are good because you can see them cruising easier, and you can drive the boat almost right up to them some times without spooking. You can cover a lot more area that way vs walking the surf.
I have seen them cruising the shallows at Bulls Bay many times. Especially at low tide.
“Apathy is the Glove into Which Evil Slips It’s Hand”.
Follow the shrimp boats at the jetties. When you see a shrimp boat that has just hauled in a load go about 100 yards off the stern of it and start to chum. The sharks follow the shrimp boats because all the by catch from the boats is thrown off the boat and creates a buffet for the sharks.You will want to use a heavy weight rod and any fly that is bright colored should work but i would suggest something about 4"-6" in length. Just start casting back into your chum line and let the fly sink a little bit then start to strip it back in. If you get a bite you need to hold on because it is going to be a long fight and the sharks are going to take off. For this reason it is good to have at least another person on the baot so you can chase the shark if needed. Good luck.
Any large oyster mounds where the red frequent like bulls bay area or folly area oyster bed at dead low yield a lot of sharks. I’ve seen some 3-5’ tailing in the folly area this year. They don’t spook easy either.
Ive had luck at creek mouths near the end of the falling tide, seems like they know the last of the food is coming out
If you can chum the sharks up and get them feeding in your slick a chum fly will work. It doesn’t have the same glamour as presenting a fly to a moving fish in shallow water however it can be a good way to get you started.