Author: Patrick Meek
Working a 14 day on 14 day off schedule gives me the opportunity to fish the beach more often than the "Average Joe."
With that being said, I'm usually fishing with my wife most everyday the weather allows me. One thing about fishing the beach in the northwestern panhandle of Florida that is different from the east and west coast is the soft sugar white sand we have. Just walking the beach is a good workout, so I try to pack as light as possible with the necessities I need. I try to find the most isolated beaches to fish and sometimes those beaches can be off the beaten path. I haven't retired my 130 class reels, but nowadays I'm usually hauling 4 or 5 surf rods in my beach cart.
I like to try and catch fresh bait whenever possible. I usually throw a 30# Bullbuster fluorocarbon double drop pompano leader baited with fresh dead peeled shrimp. With the water as warm as it's been this summer, it has not been a problem catching Bluefish, Ladyfish, or Blue Runners fairly quick. The past two weeks I was home from work, I focused mainly on catching Blacktip sharks using a 12 ft Star Paraflex surf rod. I have that rod paired up with a Penn Torque 7 loaded with 65# Hi-Viz Yellow Bullbuster braid. I make my own casting leaders using around 6 ft of the 300# Bullbuster Grander Leader material matched with Bullbuster crimps. For a bite leader, I use about 12-18" of 275# 49 strand cable with an 11/0 circle hook.
There are no harnesses involved. Only a spinning reel and a long surf rod. Sometimes these Blacktip's may burn off 50 - 75 yards of line before you can get them turned and they can be really stubborn which makes catching them on light tackle so exciting. Most of the time they will jump, so a good hook set is important after the initial run.
Casting for and catching Blacktip sharks are ideal when you're fishing alone. You don't have to worry about lugging a kayak by yourself or a spotter to watch your lines when you're paddling out your baits. You can catch fresh bait rather quickly and you're shark fishing in no time. I've caught sharks over 8 and 9 ft that I just winched in with my 130 class reels and they never pulled any drag or put up much of a fight. Blacktip's and Spinner's are always a good fight on light tackle and they can also put on a good aerial show from the beach.
Releasing these sharks can be done fairly quickly and safely if you're fishing solo which gives the shark a better chance of surviving. As always, never take a Blacktip or Spinner shark for granted. They can be very aggressive once out of the water and you should never turn your back on them.
Until next time...
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