I'm looking for opinions on the best reel for land based shark fishing. I'll mainly be targeting the medium sized shark for now so I don't need anything too big. I was thinking maybe a 4/0 wide, a 6/0, or a Daiwa 600H. I'll mostly be kayaking the bait out but there may be times when I'll have to cast it that's why I was considering the 4/0 wide.
A 115 9/0 should be all you need loaded with 80#- 130# braid & a 100yd top shot of 100-120# mono. A minimum would be a 114HLW. Rudy
You can't decide what size of Shark picks up your bait Dustin.
A 9/0 is a good start, but I mainly fish with 12 and 14/0's. I also have some Big Everol's.
A Stock 12/0 is a good medium. It can handle a Big Fish.
Thanks for the advice guys! I've read 100's of articles, posts, and handbooks on land based shark tackle but I thought it'd be best to get some first hand info from a reliable source. I'll most likely end up with the whole Senator line up since they're so addictive but I'll start with the 9 or 12/0 for now and pick up the others when I run across them.
You have to do it a few times Dustin, then you learn more every trip.
I love to Shark fish. I just wish I had more time to do it.
Basic tools and equipment are a must.
Kayak and Paddle,
12/0 on a 100lb rod with 100lb mono,
Rod Holders with rubber mallet to pound them into the sand,
Shark Rigs,
Cooler and Bait,
Gloves,
Bolt Cutters,
Dehooker,
Fighting Plate and Harness,
Headlamp,
Bug repellent, (I've upgraded to a Bug net attached to a hat) They ate me up last May.
The last three ingredients are the most important.
Beer, Chair and Life Jacket. ;)
Also, Don't forget the Camera if you actually catch one. ;D
I certainly consider Daron and Rudy far more knowledgeable than me and what they say is spot on. The other thing you need is a buddy or two. Kayaking baits solo is difficult, frustrating, and dangerous. Land based shark fishing is very much a team sport.
I haven't done it alone yet.
I need at least my wife to watch the rod until I get back from yakking it out.
There is no bigger rush than hooking into a Big Shark.
You have to have a game plan.
One more thing you will need, a tail rope. ;)
89" is my best. I'm working on that. This picture really means a lot to me.
I am grabbing that scalloped Hammer head to send him on his way and he was more than willing to go. ;D
John's 12/0 made quick work of him.
It is a good feeling to see a Shark like that swim away.
You have to be quick once you get them to the beach. Measure, photo, dehook, tag and release.
You take too long and you will have a dead Shark on your hands. I'm talking less than two minutes.
Hey folks, I discovered Bug-X insect repellent several years ago. When I first used it it had 50% DEET. I think it might still be available in 50% but the regular stuff has 30% DEET. It comes as a wet towel in an envelope. Works great. I know that DEET is not a good chemical to put on your body but it works and I don't use it often enough to be concerned. It's available on line. Daron if you got eaten up this stuff will keep those bugs away. Dominick
The 30% + Deet is what you need for the Zika Bugs
Mike
One more thing to pack is a FIRST AID KIT.
If you're not using your big Everols, you can send one to me. I promise I'll use it.
Quote from: Shark Hunter on August 12, 2016, 09:36:05 PM
You can't decide what size of Shark picks up your bait Dustin.
A 9/0 is a good start, but I mainly fish with 12 and 14/0's. I also have some Big Everol's.
A Stock 12/0 is a good medium. It can handle a Big Fish.
I know a Guy Albert.
This could be you. ;)
Thanks for all of the great advice! I have a lot of the basics but I'll definitely need a new fighting plate, harness, and at least 1 rod and reel. There will most likely be 4 of us fishing together at all times unfortunately none of us have experience catching and releasing shark over 3-4'. Have you guys ever used a Sea-Doo for dropping bait. I may pick a cheap one up over the winter.
Daron that's a nice hammer! Hopefully I can have similar success in the future but I wouldn't mind if the first few were a little smaller.
Dustin,
My very first Shark was a big Spinner. It might have been a Blacktip, but I think it was a spinner in the six foot range.
I got it to shore pretty quick. I had a game plan.
It was My brother, my son and me.
I was on the reel. I told my brother he was the tail rope guy and my boy was to grab the leader when we got him 20' from shore.
My leaders are made this way. The heavy cable can't be wound on the reel.
When I ran the leader all the way in, My son grabbed it and I set the reel back in the holder. My brother froze. I grabbed the tail rope from him and drug him up on the beach. He was still green and shook the ground flapping, coming at least two feet in the air.
He calmed down pretty quick and I went to work.
I quickly dehooked him and sent him on his way.
Spectators saw the action from the beach, but by the time they got to us, He was long gone.
The Spectator said, I guess this isn't your first Shark, I replied, A Matter of fact it was. ;)
Be calm, careful, decisive and get it done.
The adrenaline will kick in when you get a fish like that to shore. Key is being quick and safe and getting him swimming as soon as possible.
Daron thanks for all the great advice and info! I've been reading every article and post I come across but there wasn't much info out there on safely beaching and releasing a big shark. I passed your game plan on to the guys I'll be fishing with so that they could get familiar with what's going on before we hit the beach.
What's your opinions on the 9/0? It seems like a lot of the local guys favor the bigger reels spooled with straight mono.
The 9/0 is a very capable reel Dustin.
Just make sure it is serviced and ready to go. A 5 stack drag properly greased will yield 20 to 25lbs of drag.
Enough to get it done.
You need anything buddy, send me a PM.
Thank Daron I really appreciate it! I'll keep my eye out for a 9/0 with the ball bearings and an aluminium or one piece brass spool.
If you keep doing it long enough, you'll learn the reason Daron has those monstrous Everol reels. I've had things strip a 12/0 Senator, but the 14/0 hasn't faced that yet. I've also had a hammerhead bend the frame of a 9/0, although it didn't come close to emptying the spool.
Once you start getting large enough, the limitation is on the human, not on the equipment. A 9/0 is entirely manageable. A 12/0 tests the limits. At 14/0 and beyond, with strong enough line, it's outside the capability of normal humans. That means, on the run, the rod stays in the holder, well tied down. I doubt anyone can hang on to 200 lb test line that's being pulled close to its breaking strength (as in, you've run out of line). At that stress level, you're at failure territory. Anything can break.
Here's a few pics of the 10/0 I picked up. It's in pretty good condition except some brassing on the spool and a partially rounded gear sleeve. I plan to service it and upgrade to a stainless gear sleeve and drag insert if they're still available. Thank you guys so much for all the advice.
Dustin
Very nice, Dustin. I'm sure you know, the 10/0 and 12/0 have the same guts, the only difference is the width, and hence, line capacity.
Sid
Nice Dustin! Was that the one on fleabay?
John
Thanks! Yeah it's the one from ebay.
Looked like a good deal and I thought about it but needed to finish what I've already started.
Glad you got her!! Keep us along as you work it up to snuff.
John
Daron, how many rods can you fish at once ? I mean are there any legal limitations on how many ? How many lines do most guys have out from shore ?....Jeff
I've seen guys run six at a time. That is a lot of work considering you have to kayak the bait out on each one. I always take it serious. I run just one big rod and surf fish with a spinner. If you have others fishing with you. Three is enough.
I don't think there is any limit in Florida. One good fish is going to cross them all up.
There is no limit on the number or rods you can fish in Florida. But the the law says all rods must be attended. It's vague as to what that means. If you had a hooked fish on a rod but were unable to get to that rod because you were fighting another fish you would probably be breaking the law. I've put out up to eight rods at once out of boredom only to have them all get hit within a half hour of each other. It was extremely exciting and chaotic. In the end it resulted in a lot of missed hooksets and no caught fish. Joe
Catching several sharks is on my bucket list. Fishing for big Flathead & Blues not so much blues...I find 3 rods with one of those 3 in hand to be plenty. However for other types of fish I wish I could have more lines in the water. How ever 3 attended rods is all we are allowed in my state....Jeff
Quote from: Shark Hunter on August 13, 2016, 05:05:57 PM
I know a Guy Albert.
This could be you. ;)
(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4279/35786439991_0ab09f0162_b.jpg)
What reel is that ?
Tight Lines !
That my friend is the one and only "Terminator!" Everol 20/0.
http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=9627.0
Daron, that looks a stunning piece of machinery.
Mike,
U.K.
Quote from: Shark Hunter on September 16, 2016, 04:29:18 PM
That my friend is the one and only "Terminator!" Everol 20/0.
http://alantani.com/index.php?topic=9627.0
MAN . . . What a Monster !!!
Makes me think of ZANE GREY . . .
http://reeltalk.orcaonline.org/viewtopic.php?t=16632 (http://reeltalk.orcaonline.org/viewtopic.php?t=16632)http://www.antiquereels.com/Reels_2014/Reel_collection_2014_Index_ABC.htm (http://www.antiquereels.com/Reels_2014/Reel_collection_2014_Index_ABC.htm)(http://www.flkeysnews.com/latest-news/l3pyar/picture78327152/ALTERNATES/LANDSCAPE_1140/1jSNp4.So.143.jpg)
Tight Lines !