{"id":42459,"date":"2014-08-15T21:44:04","date_gmt":"2014-08-16T02:44:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.artofmanliness.com\/?p=42459"},"modified":"2026-01-08T13:26:43","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T19:26:43","slug":"how-to-catch-and-release-a-shark","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/skills\/outdoors\/how-to-catch-and-release-a-shark\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Catch (and Release) a Shark"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Stratton Lawrence<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Sharks don\u2019t get no respect. Sure, they\u2019re given their space when they appear near swimmers in the water, but a respect that amounts to, \u201cI\u2019d be happy to see you dead,\u201d does not bode well for the long-term sustainability of an entire class within the animal kingdom.<\/span><\/p>\n

Understanding the need for shark conservation can actually begin with catching them (and releasing them safely back into the ocean). It’s like the old conservationist mantra that we will only conserve what we love, and we will only love what we understand.  Understanding sharks begins with up-close interaction.<\/p>\n

In most coastal areas, sharks are a common by-catch for recreational and commercial fishermen targeting different fish species. Too many sharks die unnecessarily out of fear, ignorance or lack of knowledge about how to handle them. On the other hand, many recreational fishermen get \u2018hooked\u2019 on shark fishing because there\u2019s simply nothing else in the ocean that pulls like a 12-foot tiger shark. Both groups can benefit from knowing how to keep the safety of sharks in mind as they pursue the hobby and profession they love.<\/p>\n

Catching a shark is definitely an incredible experience; as I discovered in the research for this story, even a four-foot sandbar shark provides plenty of thrills on its way to the boat. Once you’ve done it, you may never look at other types of fishing the same way again. <\/p>\n

Whether you\u2019re fishing from the beach or a boat, here\u2019s what you need to know to intentionally catch a shark:<\/p>\n

Get the Right Bait<\/h3>\n
\"Shark

Menhaden make great cut bait for shark fishing.<\/p><\/div>\n

Fishing for sharks actually begins with fishing for whiting, bluefish, or another smaller species of bait fish.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhenever I\u2019m going after big fish, whether it\u2019s sharks or tarpon, I want to know what they\u2019re feeding on,\u201d says Newman Lawrence, an amateur fisherman in Charleston, S.C. (He\u2019s also my brother, but he knows what he\u2019s doing, so I like to fish with him.)<\/p>\n

The logic is simple: fish for sharks with the same species they\u2019re eating in the spot that you\u2019re fishing. Fresh bait is important!<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re in a boat, look for birds fishing in one clustered area. Inch your boat into the vicinity and look for ripples from schools of small fish. Throw your cast net over where you think fish are, let it sink to the bottom, and pull up a fresh load of your bait.<\/p>\n

\"Angler

Angler Newman Lawrence prepares to cast for bait.<\/p><\/div>\n

Of course, it doesn\u2019t always work out like that. On our research trip, high tides had pushed the bait fish into the marsh grass, so we anchored near the shoreline and fished with an ultralight rod (a 5\u20196\u201d Shimano Convergence) using chunks of shrimp to catch a few whiting. (Pro tip: Peel the shrimp you use for bait. They\u2019ll hold to the hook better.)<\/p>\n

After thirty minutes, with three whiting and a pinfish in the boat\u2019s livewell, we headed out to our shark spot just north of Edisto Island, S.C.<\/p>\n

Once anchored, we threw the cast net a few more times and caught about a dozen menhaden. Sharks, watch out.<\/p>\n

Perfect Your Tackle<\/h3>\n

To land a shark, you\u2019ll need tackle that can withstand rows of razor-sharp teeth and that won\u2019t break when a shark goes on a run.<\/p>\n

Rod Holder <\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Man

A piece of PVC makes a great rod holder. Rotate it and work it into the sand, creating suction with your mouth to pull sand up into the holder and push it deeper into the ground.<\/p><\/div>\n

Shark fishing isn\u2019t like cane pole pond fishing. Use your boat\u2019s rod holders, or on the beach, sink a PVC rod holder deep into the sand. Once your bait is cast, you\u2019ll leave it and wait until the line goes screaming.<\/p>\n

Line and Leader <\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Pairs

If you\u2019re fishing in the surf, a “sputnik” sinker can help hold your bait in place, rather than drifting with the current or washing back onto shore.<\/p><\/div>\n

For sharks up to about 7 feet, a 60 lb. braided line is sufficient for your main line. But, you\u2019ll also need about a rod\u2019s length of strong monofilament line at the end, before your leader, to absorb shock as the shark runs, or if you hook a species like blacktip that go airborne and leap from the water. Finally, use at least two feet of wire leader at the end. A shark can thrash around or swallow enough line to bite through even the thickest monofilament.<\/p>\n

Hooks <\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s a \u201cmatch the hatch\u201d game when choosing hooks. First of all, always use circle hooks \u2014 this will help assure that the shark is hooked in the mouth, not in the stomach. You don\u2019t plan to remove a hook from a shark\u2019s stomach, do you? Keep your hands safe, and your shark alive, by using circle hooks. Plus, they work better. With this variety, the shark will set the hook just by pulling away.<\/p>\n

\"Man

For most sharks, a 6 to 10 aught circle hook will do the trick. When rigging up a live whiting, one method is to set up two hooks, with one through the whiting\u2019s mouth and another that runs through its back and trails behind. With cut bait (the head or tail of a menhaden or whiting, for example) one hook is all you need.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Man

A rigged whiting.<\/p><\/div>\n

Rod and Reel<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

In general, get a 6,000 to 8,000 size spinner reel, and a 10-12-foot rod. eBay has tons of affordable options, as well as high end models. A Penn Battle 6000 is a suitable starter reel. Once you seriously commit, you can graduate to Everol reels.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re new to the sport, remember that fishing began as a poor man\u2019s pastime, and it still can be. Of course, if you want to drive a Cadillac, it\u2019s available, but you can still catch a big ol’ shark with a Chevy.<\/p>\n

Land a Shark<\/h3>\n
\"The

The author reels in a sandbar shark.<\/p><\/div>\n

One of the biggest mistakes beach fishermen make is to wade out to chest-level water and then cast their bait beyond the surf. Like it or not, the sharks are in the surf, where you\u2019d typically be swimming. Cast right there.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re targeting big sharks (6 feet or longer), however, they\u2019ll hang out where the shore drops off, just beyond the waves. The easiest way to get your bait there is to kayak out beyond the breakers, drop your bait, and then kayak back to shore.<\/p>\n

Now comes the fun part \u2014 your first bite. You\u2019ll know when a shark hits, because your rod tip will bend almost to the water and your reel will scream. After you cast, set your drag just loose enough that a shark can take your bait and run with it. You don\u2019t want him to immediately know he\u2019s hooked.<\/p>\n

Once their run lets up for a second, tighten your drag. Give a slight tug (the circle hook should have already set itself). Now they know they\u2019re hooked, and they\u2019ll make a second run.<\/p>\n

The game of tug-of-war begins. Don\u2019t rush it. Landing a big shark can take well over an hour. When the shark gives you some slack, reel away. Keep your rod tip up, and when you feel the opportunity, lower it slightly and reel in some line.<\/p>\n

Inch the shark closer to the beach or to your boat.<\/p>\n

Now for a couple considerations specific to boat and beach fishing respectively:<\/p>\n

Boat<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Man

A sandbar shark, caught from a boat by the author and his brother, and released while still in the water.<\/p><\/div>\n

Make a decision \u2014 do you need to bring this fish onto your boat, or are you happy to release them without removing them from the water? The latter will dramatically improve their chance of survival, unless you\u2019re extremely fast in bringing them onto the boat.<\/p>\n

Beach<\/strong><\/p>\n

Did we mention a cardinal rule of shark fishing yet? Never fish alone. Once your shark emerges in the shallow water, you\u2019ll need to hold onto the rod while your partner approaches the shark in the water. If it\u2019s a big guy, use a rope around their tail to gently pull it to the shore. If it\u2019s a small shark, grasp their tail or pectoral fins (not their gills!) and pull it backwards to shore.<\/p>\n

Always keep the shark\u2019s mouth facing the ocean so that they can continue breathing with help from waves or the slightly deeper water. You don\u2019t need to pull them all the way onto hard sand. Leave them in the soft sand where waves continue to splash over them, or in enough water that they can breathe (but in a place that you can safely remove the hook). All the while, remember that sharks have teeth, and they can bite you. Be careful.<\/p>\n

Release a Shark<\/h3>\n
\"A

Dehooker<\/p><\/div>\n

Here\u2019s rule number two: when you catch a shark, you have two minutes with it, or less. Big sharks only give birth every few years, and letting one die unnecessarily is a devastating loss to the ecosystem.<\/p>\n

Before you go shark fishing, put the following items in your tackle box:<\/p>\n