Shark fishing?

[CP312]

Good morning,

So I stumbled upon this place during a google search that produced a thread from a few years ago and you guys seemed to have far more/better info than anything else I found so I decided to join. For starters, I am not a kayak fisherman and I apologize ahead of time for that. But I have a serious obsession for land based shark fishing which typically requires kayaking out baits so I figure that counts So onto my question. Several times a year I travel to the southern part of SC to shark fish and typically have great luck. But, I live in central VA... so it's not what one might call practical. I would love to fish somewhere closer that maybe I could take a day trip to or something like that. Does anyone have suggestions in VA, NC or MD of where I can fish for larger sharks from the beach without issue? Obviously I'd plan to do this mostly in the evening or secluded places as I know it can be a touchy subject. I typically kayak out baits but I just ordered the new Gannet Drone for carrying bait so I'd love to have somewhere close to test it!! Thanks ahead of time!

[Slobber Bob]

Welcome.

If you are looking at the Eastern Shore your options are Delaware (which I don't know much about other than it's illegal to land a shark on the dry beach - you have to keep it in the wash to unhook), Ocean City, Assateague (MD & VA), or the VA barrier islands.

In Ocean City, during the summer season, you can only surf fish before and after lifeguards are on the beach. Any other time of year you can surf fish whenever you want. Within the last 1 - 2 years they passed a law that it is illegal to kayak baits out. You can still shark fish, but you have to cast your bait from the sand. I'm not sure if it covered drones? But the shark fishing from the beach issue blew up big recently, so even if drones were legal you're probably asking for trouble doing it.

Assateague (MD & VA) is Federal land with NPS and U.S. FWS ownership depending where on the island you are and I know drones are banned on Federal lands. Kayak baits out is acceptable and I've seen it done many times in the summer. You have a little more beach to spread away from families and such on the MD side than the VA, but both are doable. If you have a vehicle capable of driving on the sand, you can purchase an annual OSV pass and drive the beach and have more options for where to setup. The majority of the OSV zones in both MD & VA have partial closures in the summer because of nesting birds, but there is usually at least some open in the summer to use. It all depends on the where the birds nest.

The VA barrier islands are TNC and VDGIF lands and are all open for recreational day use. But you'll need a boat or kayak to get to them, so they aren't exactly casual day trips.

I've only ever fished the SE VA (VA Beach and Sandbridge areas) once before, and it was outside the summer season, so I don't know the rules down there or for NC.

What kind of sharks do you catch in SC or want to target? On the Eastern Shore the biggest shark by size you're most likely to catch from the beach are sand tigers. The most abundant sharks you're most likely going to catch are sandbar sharks. Spinners, dusky, and the very rare bull are about it for other sharks you'll reasonably catch from the sand - besides dogfish that is. Very, very good chance to hook into stingrays the size of small compact cars too that will take an hour to land, lol.

[CP312]

Thanks for all the info Bob. I talked to someone today who said Buxton can be quite good at the right time so the OBX may be a legit option too. That and Assateague are about the same distance from me. Sandbridge would honestly be best case scenario for me from a distance perspective. Sadly I've found lots of articles that say it is illegal and could lead to very serious consequences, but there are all very old. I've had several people tell me if you aren't really near people and wander a few hundred yards from the pier the fishing is great and no one really cares if you're smart about it.

I am intrigued by Ocean City, my buddy's family has a condo there we can stay in for free. Any idea what times the life guards are typically on post? Trying to decide if that would be worth a trip.

As far as SC goes, I routinely catch them in the 7' range but have lost many I am sure were larger likely due to the equipment I was using. I've solved that issue now with much larger stuff as I've gotten better at what I'm doing so I hope the sharks in turn get larger. I've talked to several people in the area I fish there who have caught some very large sharks in the 10'+ range. The giant stingrays are also quite prevalent there as well lol I've had some several hour battles with several in the past.

I'm glad you brought up the eastern shore, I've fished out of Cape Charles in a boat before but never on land. Is there even a place to do that and do you have any idea what sort of luck I may have? Thanks again for getting back to me.

[CHOC]

Like others have suggested Assateague and the surrounding areas are good options.

Not trying to get you in an unsafe situation, but I encourage you to check this out. This guy catches sharks all the time from his kayak!

[CP312]

Thanks CHOC. I don't kayak fish and maybe that is why. I honestly have no desire to catch a shark from a kayak, I do really enjoy catching them from the beach over any other type of fishing thought. Seems like Ocean City and Assateague are good options though along with the OBX. I'll have to familiarize myself with places to buy bait in or around Assateague and what sorts of bait I can easily catch once on the beach. Is there a particular time of year I should start trying there or are sharks around all year long?

[Slobber Bob]

The lifeguards in OC are there sometime between 9 - 6 or there about everyday. I think from Memorial Day until a few weeks into September. Shore based access along the lower Chesapeake is tough. Cape Charles has a beach and fishing pier and Kiptopeke State Park has some beach and pier fishing options. I've never fished there before from land, but I know they are sharky areas. Although it may be more quantity over quality size.

Around Assateague you can purchase bunker in at a few shops for bait. Otherwise, you can cast net mullet in the back bays or catch bluefish, kingfish (whiting), and spot from the surf to chuck or send out live. The time of year is June - early October usually. I've caught a lot of big rays and sharks off Assateague in Sept and early Oct when targeting drum. I know nighttime in the summer is good too, but I really don't target sharks so I'm not there much that time of year.

[CP312]

The lifeguards in OC are there sometime between 9 - 6 or there about everyday. I think from Memorial Day until a few weeks into September. Shore based access along the lower Chesapeake is tough. Cape Charles has a beach and fishing pier and Kiptopeke State Park has some beach and pier fishing options. I've never fished there before from land, but I know they are sharky areas. Although it may be more quantity over quality size.

Around Assateague you can purchase bunker in at a few shops for bait. Otherwise, you can cast net mullet in the back bays or catch bluefish, kingfish (whiting), and spot from the surf to chuck or send out live. The time of year is June - early October usually. I've caught a lot of big rays and sharks off Assateague in Sept and early Oct when targeting drum. I know nighttime in the summer is good too, but I really don't target sharks so I'm not there much that time of year.

Thanks Bob! Guess the waiting game begins now.

[ronaultmtd]

As an old time Sharker (still hold the Virginia record for Great Hammerhead Shark) I would not recommend shark fishing from any kayak...beach fishing for giant sharks where you carry the baits out and drop them off is not shark fishing from a kayak...People used to think we were completely crazy shark fishing from 24 foot boats...monster fishing out of a kayak is high risk, low reward...a thousand pound tiger shark is nothing to mess with and they occasionally swim in the surf just yards from shore...the most dangerous unprovoked attacker of humans is the bull shark, a very common inshore shark that is very aggressive and grows to 500-600 pounds. My advice is leave them alone. It is not without serious risks of injury and worse...