Article by Skylar Snead and Chris Taylor
Late April and into May seems to always be when the toothy critters arrive in the surf. From bluefish to sharks of all sizes, this is when the real predators show up. Whether you are just out to bend a rod, stock up on some bluefish, or land a shark on the beach, we have a few tips and tricks to help you on your way to success!
Every spring when the bluefish arrive, it’s generally no secret. Birds diving and fish busting water are hard to miss even for the beginner. It’s time to throw some cut bait, and you’re gonna want some heavy mono and steel leaders to avoid being bit off. A high-low rig with floats and finger mullet cut in half should be your go-to. There are, however, times you’re gonna wanna throw some metal. Large stinging silvers, spoons, and even soft plastics can hook you more bluefish than you can count when they are feeding in the surf.
Bluefish often get a bad rap as a “trash fish,” but if you harvest the right size, they make great table fare. Personally, we like the 10–14” range. Everything else either goes back or becomes shark bait. Simple as that.
Along with the blues come the sharks. Sandbar sharks and sand tigers generally show up first, arriving in May, and you can catch plenty if you’re prepared. As the season progresses, large duskies, blacktips, spinners, and even tiger sharks make their way into our waters. To get started, you’re gonna want some large circle hooks—13/0 or larger depending on the size bait and if you’re casting or paddling them out. Additionally, you want a steel leader to prevent being bitten off and a good amount of heavy mono before your main line. Shark skin is super abrasive, and a rub leader that can’t easily be cut through is necessary. Shark skin will cut braided line like a knife!
Casting for sharks isn’t a long-distance game. You’re going to want to look for deep water close to shore. Keep your eyes open for spots where the waves break on the sandbar but fizzle out, not breaking again until they hit the shoreline. Another good place to look and fish for the sharks are rip currents and breaks in the bar. Sharks use these to get in close, and it’s a perfect spot to set up.
The serious shark fisherman on the beach generally is accompanied by sit-on-top kayaks and large boat rods and reels like a Penn 50W. These big setups and larger baits that go with them have to be paddled out. Using one of the kayaks, we will take the baits and drop them anywhere between 150 to 300 yards offshore. A tactic that has always worked well for us is picking a variety of distances. The gear we use when fishing this way is a 20/0 circle hook with a 40-inch piece of braided cable connected to a heavy crane swivel. This connects to 25 feet of 350-pound mono leader. Connected to that is 200 yards of 200-pound mono top shot; beneath that, 800 yards of 80-pound braid. As mentioned before, shark skin and braided line are not friends, and the mono top shot prevents swim-throughs. Even when not hooked up to a shark, a shark cruising around can cut your line off instantly.
When paddling lines out, we use a wide range of bait, including large bluefish, tuna bloodline, tilefish heads, small tuna heads, black drum heads that we saved for our spring season, and even those pesky skates! To have a good chance at hooking up, you have to let them eat, but there is a fine line between not enough and too much. A gut-hooked shark has a high mortality rate over the course of a month due to starvation or infection.
To prevent this, we use a blocker rig. This is a specialty rig some local tackle shops carry that won’t let the shark swallow the hook too far. Six to eight inches above the hook is a piece of PVC or ½” conduit with a hole drilled in the center and secured above the hook. It should be perpendicular to the leader and secured with a rubber band or crimps. Fished alongside rigs without blockers proves they don’t mind the awkward-looking rig one bit. If you’re serious about your shark fishing and want your releases to have the best chance of survival, you need to give a blocker-style rig a try!
Summer is for sharks, and we’re more than ready. Whether you’re just starting out or gearing up for another season, it’s time to hit the sand, cast big, and hold on tight.
See you on the sand!
