Kayak Shark Fishing

Has anyone on here done it?

Catching a decent shark on the kayak this summer is my biggest goal!! I think I would plan on launching from Assateague rather than Ocean City because the waves a more rollers.

I know surfdog caught some decent shark from the surf a few weeks ago so they are out there.

Anyone got any suggestions or interest in joining me on some trips let me know, I think I'm gonna try to launch oceanside of Assateague/OC at least once a week.

Tackle wise I guess I would go with a large circle hook and wire leader probably egg sinker?

[mmanolis2001]

I have not had the fun of a shark fishing from the kayak yet but i think i will unintentionally run into them this summer while trying for cobia and kings down in NC.

To tell you the truth i don't know what to do if i hook one. Its def not coming on the boat so i figure a quick cut of the leader after some pics. I hate leaving hooks in but I'm not going to take a risk in grievous gashes trying to unhook a pissed shark.

If you are targeting them then you will need a good plan for handling and realising them close to the boat. From the sharks i have caught in the past its humbling how powerful they are. A tired shark on the beach and a tired shark next to the boat are different animals. I would worry about a large shark close to the boat thrashing about If it caught you off guard. I made the mistake of trying to pull a 7ft nurse shark over the transom of a rental boat for the cool pic in the keys one year. It went nuts and before straightening a lip gaff it almost knock the motor off the transom. Bad idea

For rigs you could use a egg sinker on your main line, a large swivel and length of steel leader at least as long as the sharks you expect to catch.

A balloon rig drifted with a live bait should also grab some attention. Might pick up a lost cobia as well.

I have been running different tactics thru my mind preparing for my vacation to NC. One of which is what to do if a large shark takes my king or cobia bait. I think my best luck is sticking with cutting the leader

[surfdog]

that was a baby to what is out there. most will yak a bait out then come back to the beach to catch it. some set up their 4x4s with fighting chairs to fight these sharks some up to 8' i'd think twice about hanging a big hunk of bloody fish off the yak at night. during the day smaller sharks roam the surf, 5/0-8/0 circle hook on a wire leaderwill work with a stinky bloody piece of bunker on it

[frettr00]

I'll go after sand sharks and sting rays (I'll even eat a ray if I'm hungry enough). Anything that has teeth that isn't just "sandpaper" isn't coming aboard though..

[chimo]

Definitely have thought about doing it but haven't attempted yet. Next summer when I am back I think it might be on my list though As for what to do once you get then to the yak, I think either cutting the leader as close to the hook as possible or one of those long handled hook removers I've seen them use on tv for that tournament down in Florida. No way I am going to try and grab it with my bare hands! Might be best to have a partner with you in another yak to lend a hand and in case something happens to. Good fishin

Chimo

[ronaultmtd]

Back in the day, I was a member of the Virginia Beach Sharkers and dedicated shark fisherman- we fished for sharks in small boats- mine was a 24 foot Stamas Clearwater named the "Bottom Line"- it isn't something anyone should deliberately do in a kayak- sharks are like dogs- they are aware of size- a big shark will be much larger than the kayak and that difference will spell trouble for any angler sitting in the kayak...Tiger sharks are routinely caught off fishing piers and they arguable are the largest man eater in the world- some say the white is bigger but monsters of both species have been caught that are over 25 feet long- my advice is don't do it- catching an occasional sand shark incidental to fishing is one thing- rigging for, baiting and chumming for large sharks from a kayak is foolish and could easily be deadly.

[jffoley]

Back in the day, I was a ... dedicated shark fisherman- we fished for sharks in small boats-

Me too. My brother and I did a lot of shark fishing running from Manasquan, NJ in a 25' Aquasport CC. Mako, browns, blues, duskys, tiger and yes, great whites. It was awesome.

my advice is don't do it- catching an occasional sand shark incidental to fishing is one thing- rigging for, baiting and chumming for large sharks from a kayak is foolish and could easily be deadly.

Ditto. Very good advice. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULe3w-bD0h4&NR=1

Or go for little ones: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUC-n...eature=related This guy is lucky the shark bit the side of his kayak and not his leg! I think the guy is a bit reckless here. Very dangerous...

[pungomd]

Sharks!!!!

I would suggest everyone watch the youtube videos of jceviche, he fishes off of San Diego and he lands some big ones. Really worth a look.
http://www.youtube.com/user/jceviche#p/u/10/QW5Is3W4RtA

[Memory Maker]

......... sorry ...... my ambition is not to become shark sh!t ........

good luck ........ be safe .......

[ronaultmtd]

I would suggest everyone watch the youtube videos of jceviche, he fishes off of San Diego and he lands some big ones. Really worth a look.
http://www.youtube.com/user/jceviche#p/u/10/QW5Is3W4RtA

Thresher sharks- not Tigers, Makos, Hammerheads, Bulls, Lemons or Whites- but a thresher whose tail accounts for 3/4 of its length- and Johnny catches monster White Sea Bass and Yellowtails- he is legendary on the west coast- advice is free- take or leave it- no one stops anyone from doing anything- I have given what I think is pretty good advice from an experienced shark fisherman- but it is up to you-

[pungomd]

for the record

i am in one hundred percent agreement with Ron, just thought the videos are nuts.

[CB kayak 02]

I completely understand all the advice, I guess when I said decent shark, I meant 2-3 ft. But I do agree you can't predict what size shark will take your bait. Also I don't think I mentioned but I would have my buddy on my boat out there with me.

Thanks for all the advice, I definitely don;t have a death wish... I got a lot more fish to catch on my kayak.

[surfdog]

i agree with john and ron. just because u can do it doent mead u should do it.

[mmanolis2001]

I would suggest everyone watch the youtube videos of jceviche, he fishes off of San Diego and he lands some big ones. Really worth a look.
http://www.youtube.com/user/jceviche#p/u/10/QW5Is3W4RtA

That video is a good example of a pissed shark at the boat. I don't know whats more frighting in this video. The head with all the Sharp pointy teeth or the 4 ft tail with the magnum rapala hanging from it. He is a brave man tail grabbing a thresher with a 10" stick of wood with three sets of large trebles hanging from it. What would you do if one of those hooks finds your leg, fore arm or hand. I guess the best outcome would be it if ripped out when the shark goes nuts. You could imagine the worst outcome.

jceviche is the man. I still watch this epic sleigh ride of his from time to time.

http://www.youtube.com/user/jceviche#p/u/20/6E9PSS6Nyvo

[PhotoBob]

I've been lurking here from time to time. This topic hits close to home for me. After doing a fair share of sharking from the beach on my yearly vacations to Oak Island NC. Last year I too decided to try my hand at it from the yak. So after hooking into a nice 13-15" blue I proceeded to Hook it through its back with my usual shark rig that I would use from the beach minus the weight. My rod and reel consist of a shimano tld30 and a 130 class tuna rod spun full of about 800 yards of 80# braid. I spooled out about 30 yards of line and let the blue swim off leaving the drag on very lightly put the big boy rod in the holder and continued to throw chopped mullet for blues. I had almost forgot about it after a few more bluefish caught and released. Then boom the tld explodes. By how it was peeling off line I thought it might have been a king. By the time I get my other rod in the scotty and the now screaming shark rod into my hands it must have taken another 100 yards off the spool. So I slam the drag up and feel the weight,(definitely not a king) instantly the yak is spun around and it's on the move, being towed. The drag is still peeling off. I had it at this point as tight as it would go. It wasn't peeling off as fast now but I think that this was because the yak was moving faster in the water. Each time I crested a wave the drag would zip off a yard or 2. After what seemed like a hour but was probably more like 15 minutes I realized the fish had moved me a half mile up and at least a mile out from where I had started (1/4 mile below ocean crest pier). The worst part was that the fish was running with the wind. I made the decision to cut it off. Wish I would have seen what it was but I will not do it again especially on the water alone. So my advice is to not or to target small, have a knife or snips handy to cut it, but you never know what it going to take the bait.