Shark Fishing Guide: Rigging Shark Bait
Rigging your shark bait is vital to hooking up with a shark. You can hook them through the eyes and fish just the head or you can hook them through the tail and fish them live. There are actually several different ways to rig your shark bait but I’ve only shown the method I prefer. Here’s a picture of a very nice bluefish rigged up as shark bait.
If you notice I’ve got 2 hooks on this rig of stainless steal leader. The bigger the bait the more hooks you need. This bluefish is around 18″ so 2 hooks were needed for good coverage. I feed the hooks through the mouth and out the gill. Place the first hook (closest to the main line) just below the gill. Then place subsequent hooks 1 - 2 inches from each other. If you’re using a piece of cut bait you’ll only need a single hook.
The next step to rigging your shark bait is critical! Make sure you bring some wax covered twine or zip ties. This method is used for two reasons. The first is to keep the shark from stealing your bait. As the bait sits in the water the skin will become soft and will tear easily. When a shark picks up the bait there is a good chance he’s going to mouth it for a while before the hooks are in the sweet spot. The second reason to secure the bait in this manner is to ensure the hooks are perpendicular to the bait. Imagine for a second the shark picks up your bait and happens the bite down right on the hook. More than likely the hook will lay flat on the bait and you’ll miss the hook-up.
My method for securing the hook to the shark bait is pretty simple. Cut a 20″ piece of twine and lay it out flat. Now place the bait in the middle of the twine with the hooks facing up. Take the two ends wrapping it around the bait and through the eye of the hook. Now flip the bait over and tie a square not. If you did it right the hook should automatically be pulled perpendicular to the shark bait. You shark bait should end up looking like this.
You may consider fishing for sharks with live bait. Its a little more tricky since you’ll need everything setup before you catch your first piece of bait. You’ll need a single hook leader and you’ll probably want to use a circle hook. The best place to hook a shark for live baiting them is probably aft of the dorsal fit on the top side. This should keep him alive for quite a while and give him an injured look which is sure to attack the big boys.
Have a tip or see something I missed? Want to ask a question? Just drop a quick comment below and I get back to you before your next big shark fishing trip.
hey man thanks for all the great tips. shark fishing is my new love. it is so addicting. i mostly fish off of st simons and jekyll island ga. there are more shark catches in the golden isles than people give us credit for. i have caught some beuties out of those waters. i usually fish from the pier but large crowds and unruly late night drunks have deterred me from that. i have recently found an interest in surf fishing. i have a friend with a jet-ski and he runs the bait for me. i am interested in purchasing a kyak so i dont have to rely so much on other people for bait placement. any ideas on how to find a kyak at a decent price? thanks for the info and keep it coming man. your advice is welcome here anytime.
tight lines and god bless
scott
I actualy just moved to Brunswick from Texas, and have gotten into shark fishing. Its actualy kind of hard to find people that share the interest, that actualy GO shark fishing. I hear what your saying about the Jekyll Peir, the drunks ruin it. I have 3 Kayaks (Not ocean Kayaks, but they work) I run the bait out. I dont have any hardcore equipment, but Id like to fish with someone thats from the area. Interested in hookin up for fishin?
wow what a waste of bait man, you don’t have to use a whole fish that big. IF the fish was the size of two fists i would put it out there. I could catch 10 sharks on that one bluefish.
I would use the whole fish if I was live baiting. I also normally cut the tail fin of the fish at an angle that makes the fish swim erraticaly.
However, for the dead stuff I would cut it into chunks, I think in addition to getting more bait there is more smell and blood attractant if the fish is cut.
I have to admit this site is better then the one I am developing in my spare time but if you can check out:
http://WWW.sharkfighter.com
BIGGER BAITS DONT MEAN BIGGER FISH!
Actually it does mean that. Bigger shark baits also prevent crabs and other small fish from destroying the bait before a shark finds it. It’s not fun to have to carry baits out constantly to save a few pieces of dead fish. Cut bait doesn’t come from the ass of a golden goose. You can spare some.
Maybe in Texas you got all those crab problems, but in Florida we don’t have that much, at least on the east coast. A 1 pound piece of barracuda will catch you the biggest sharks in the ocean. Sharks know how to bite around hooks when you use big baits, I’ve witnessed this soo many times. They aren’t stupid! That’s why a lot of you guys who use that huge bait lose a lot of sharks.
I do not like poeple who kill sharks, because they are the predators in the oceans and sea, but I do not understand if why they kill them.
please people do not kill sharks because you do not even eat them!
sorry man, but i do eat those good 30in blacktips
Here’s some videos I make how how to make shark Leaders:
The video with me making a shark rig is showing how I make my casting rigs.
How to Make Shark Leaders Video:
http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=9115305200231700920
Choosing Leader Materials:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2kxw4qwRhk
Hope this helps some of you!
in reply to sine.
i am a nz surfcarster and regularly catch sharks. I believe that sharks are the predators of the ocean and also know for a fact that they are a delicious species. They should not be wasted, so for those that do catch a shark think twice before you waste it.
Shark fishing is addictive and a great sport. I am in the Keys and can’t get enough. Plus they are good eatin!
Absolutely agrred
Love those shark
2-3′ sharks are great for ceviche and tacos. 3-5 make good steaks and fish&chips. Big sharks are breeding age and should be released so that they can make more of those delicious eating sized sharks.
Great website. I’ve learned a lot from reading this article. I’ll be on the atlantic coast of Florida in two weeks and I’ve just about go all my stuff together. What do you think of using an inflatable row boat instead of a kayak? Just for the sake of saving $$$$$. Walmart has a decent sized one for $30. I think I’ll cover the floor of it with 1/2″ plywood for added stability. What do you think about this idea?
I wouldn’t recomend it, but I guess that would depend on what types of waves you might have to deal with. Here in NSB we have a pretty consistant break and with an inflatable kayak, you might not have the rigidity and mass to push through them when you paddle out. I’d be curious to see how it works out though, good luck!
i have done some shark fishing , but i have to depend on other people to take my bait out , was wondering if anyone could tell me in detail how the ballon works , on getting your bait out from shore , thanks and love the site.