Sharking Advice
Hi Peeps,
I have been getting into a fair bit of metro landbased shark fishing, well paddling and balooning baits out with only a couple of small strikes and no proper hookups.
Iam running 80 pound braid mainline, tied with a bimni twist and a clench knot to 140 pound mono leader joined to a swivel which is attached to a 300 pound wire trace. Where the bait is usually suspended
by a baloon tied to the swivell above the wire trace. (Any suggestions on this setup?)
Ive been really wanting to get onto a decent sized bronzie or tiger shark. Any tips on what baits go well with these sort of sharks?
Also what sort of berly slick do you guys normally get going? Just an oil slick? oil and bait slick? Is it possible(okay/ legal) to create a small chum slick?
Also what sort of weather wind and swell conditions should I be looking out for? (Usually I head out when ever the wind is blowing offshore, depending on the beach on rising tide)
Cheers guys
Anyfishwilldo (not verified)
Posts: 23
Date Joined: 01/01/70
We got stuck into some big
We got stuck into some big ones the other week out from warnbro. We were in a boat but not that far offshore. We were hooking up in 6m of water using full mullet on ganged 10/0 tarpon hooks. No fancy rigs, just mono to trace with a float. Sharks were 3m+ and no hope getting boat side with the gear we had. As for hookups, I've found if you let them run for a bit before you strike! It was 1pm when we were catching these sharks, we had 5 hookups and now my pen 330 gti needs some attention!! Squeaks like fk now.
Madmerv
Posts: 672
Date Joined: 24/01/15
Sharks
I'm not a shark fisherman, to me they are a very unwanted bycatch, but have caught a stack over the years.
Your target species will both hunt in all depths but as a general rule will be swimming in the bottom 1/3 of the water column. Most injured fish, sick fish, will be looking for cover and the sharks are looking for them so keep the bait in the bottom 1/3.
I have not ever heard of it being illegal to chum and it is a cracker way to bring them in but please be mindful of the beach use. Dont do it if there are swimmers about. Also the rays will usually come in in numbers. A whole, uncut fish, will reduce you chance of rays going the bait, but not eliminate it. The shark targeters will give you the best bait to use.
There are plenty of shark FW fisherman that post here and they may have a better idea than me it is just my experiences catching them when i dont want them. Of course if you target it then they wont bloody bite.
Good luck and dont forget. If there is no photo then it never happened.
Sometimes when the water is quiet, you can hear the fish laughing at you !
woody
Posts: 615
Date Joined: 27/02/08
Get onto FB and join Shark
Get onto FB and join Shark Fishing WA page.....heaps of mad keen fishos who are catching plenty of metro sharks
Hutch
Posts: 2221
Date Joined: 21/04/13
I personally prefer to yak
I personally prefer to yak regardless of wind and conditions, gets baits out much faster and is less fuss.
As for setup, I generally fish over weed and reef so I run both a brick and a balloon, keeping the bait mid-water.
For baits I usually use tailor, mullet or blue macks, with the latter only really good for if smaller sharks are around, if they sit in the water for awhile pickers will eventually just strip them to shreds.
Whilst glass conditions are very easy to yak and set baits in, I often find that I have a lot more success when it's a bit rougher and there is chop to provide cover.
I don't think depth plays a huge part, although obviously you will generally have more success in the deeper areas. Just look for structure like dropoffs or reef edges that the sharks may patrol along looking for a feed.
I don't use burley, mainly as I can't really be bothered and I think if there are any sharks in the area they will find your bait eventually.
I'm currently running 50-60lb braid with at least 100m of mono topshot for abrasion resistance and invaluable stretch when you have a fish in close in the break. I run 4-5m of 200lb wire trace and then about 10m of 100lb mono leader for abrasion resistance.