Boatless Fishing Forum, Reports, Info

I've gotten 3 hookups in the last 2 times out, and 2 out of the 3 times I did not get a hookset. The one time that I did, I didn't even know he was on until I started reeling it in to check the bait.

The last one today took a total of 30 seconds. I caught a mac, hooked him 3/4ths of the way down towards the tail....he died before I could get him in the water, so i gave him a 2in inscision down both sides, tied a ballon about 5ft up from him, and tossed him in the water. I turned to get a bearing on my position, turned back to see it floating away about 15ft from me when the balloon went under, then across the water, and the clicker was going. Maybe 10sec, later I started to apply pressure. The tug of war lasted 20-30 sec before (I think) the hook ripped out of the mac. I just dont think he had a chance to swallow the whole thing. It was a 12in balloon, and it went under..musta been a bigun'..what a rush to see it go so close. Damn, I wish I could have landed him and took a picture.

So, do you think I needed to wait longer? How long?

You should probably post this in the shark info section.

With a big bait, I would use a circle hook, and wait longer. Are you using a stinger rig? That might help too.

Well, I'm fishin from a Yak. Yes I use circles, and I may add another circle as a stinger, but I like live bait better. All that hardware may impede it's action...maybe kill it faster. Any ideas on a less restrictive rig?

I do not sharkfish from my yak....kinda like playin russian roulette....lol But kudos to you and your big 'nads....

In answer to the question, I hook Gogs with a wired 2/0 and a Trebble Hook in the tail for kingfish. I Inderstand your Sharkwire may be a tad heavier, but I can get 60# into a gog and he swims fine....Just do a nose hook W the Circle and run the wire down the back and insert 1 barb of the trebble in the tail....Trick on a yak, is to have em prewired. I have like 6 little sandwitch baggies with me with harness of different sizes to use based on what size runners I get in the surf prelaunch...I have a few miniscule ones for pilchards if that all that is there as well.....

Worked well for this guyy, caught on a live runner...lasted like 5 minutes in the water when...RrrrrrriiiiiiiiiPPP Goes the clicker !!

I've caught a few sharks while yak fishing. I use a pretty simple rig on my Penn 650 spinning reel, 7 1/2' rod. 40 lb. Power Pro braid, with about 4' of single-strand steel leader, and an 8/0 Circle hook.

Usually I will put the bait (ladyfish, mackeral, jack - whatever) on by hooking through the bony part of the nose, but I can see the value in a double hook rig - they seem to either go for the bellies or the back half of the fish first. Any time the shark has taken the back half of the bait, I have thrown it back out & gotten the hit again within a few minutes. Most of the time I will set out the shark rig & then go back to fishing my light rig while I wait for a hit, and leave the shark rig with very light drag. When the shark hits, it normally takes me a half-minute or so to get my other rig reeled in & stowed away properly (you don't want anything loose on your deck when you tighten the drag & pull!). By the time everything else is taken care of, the shark has usually started to swim away with the bait, and tightening the drag is all that's needed to set the circle hook.

Don't even try this unless you are ready for an "extreme kayak fishing" experience. Once you start pulling back, that shark is going to take you for a RIDE. You want him out front - NOT to the side... but at times, you won't have a choice - you've got to deal with it. Keep your drag light enough that he can strip line out when he shakes his head. Use your hand on the reel for your main drag, until he gets tired enough that you can start taking line in. Even then, don't over-do the drag, or he's going to surprise you. Have fun - be BE SAFE. Don't let him pull you over. If you don't have the kayaking experience, don't do this. Fish with a buddy close by.

Don

Yeah, that's about the same scenario as I do. I fish with a light spinner for blues, macks, etc, and have the big gun out for the sharks. I keep the rod always pointed between 10 and 2 forward, and keep the drag light, and use hand/thumb pressure for the main drag. When he takes off, I can quickly let him have the line, and slowly add more hand pressure. Like you, I have let him eat for 20 to 30 sec, then unclip the anchor and engage the drag for the ride. I'm 4 for the last 5 times....I'm addicted.

Cool! If you ever do a "shark-yak" video, be sure to post it.

Don

Woodkayaker wrote: If you don't have the kayaking experience, don't do this. Fish with a buddy close by.

Don

Absoooooolutely 100% True. Things can go South many ways with a big fish and a kayak. now add in a set of teeth and a vindictive nature....

Light drag is key so you do not get taken over on the side runs.....with many fish in open water you will not be able to keep thme in front always.....and Woodyakker I like the "hand drag" idea on the spinning reel - good advice !

It'll take me that long to get the rod out of the holder, and maybe put the other rod(s) away. I think you mean swallow, not digest, and that's OK, because the wire leader will protect from bite offs, and the circle should pull out and into the rt side or bottom jaw. I have found that they seem to bite and run, repositioning the bait for swallowing as they run away. I've been pretty good lately on hookup ratio, when I have let them take it for a bit. I use mostly Mustad 16/0 circles.

Sharkman -

Maybe you have a lot more experience at this than I do - I don't doubt that. But the circle hooks have done the job very well for me, up to this point. Every single shark that I have caught has been hooked in the corner of the mouth.

Then again, maybe the difference is where you are fishing & what bait you are using, versus where I am fishing & the bait I am using. I have been fishing inshore, in fairly shallow waters - 6 to 10 feet deep, using fairly small baits - ladyfish, small jacks, and spanish mackeral - location, SW Florida. I am sure that there are bigger sharks in these waters, but I have been hooking them mostly in the 4 to 6 foot size range (which is the way I like it!).

What do you think? The longer wait time seems to be working where I am fishing.

Don