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Women on the Water

Lady gets bit on shallow water sharking!

Written by Merry Beth Ryan

AS SEEN IN THE WINTER 2004-05 ISSUE

Some would say that perhaps no other fish in the sea has been more misunderstood than the mysterious shark. Other than makos, few recreational anglers ever actually targeted sharks. Then in the early 70’s the ever so popular movie entitled "Jaws" hit theaters across the nation: soon after a whole new era in recreational angling began. Suddenly, everyone wanted to target these intriguing monsters.

Shark fishing is readily available to most anglers living along coastal states, while virtually all of Florida’s coastal waterways are shark ‘hot spots.’ Last month I set out in search of shallow water sharks aboard Captain Van Hubbard’s Let’s Go Fishin, based out of Boca Grande. I knew I was in for a real adventure knowing these colossal coastal creatures strike with shear vengeance. Captain Hubbard suggested we first look for the migrating baitfish along the beaches, where we were sure to find some hungry shallow water hunters hot on their tails. We cast-netted thousands of minnows to use as enticing chum and later used a sabiki rig to load the bait-well with blue runners, the bait of choice for many coastal predators.

The water was crystal clear on that cool October morning. Numerous schools of glass minnows could be seen frantically trying to avoid the predators below. Calico and horseshoe crabs scurried out of our way as we cruised to one of many promising channel edges. The captain positioned the boat with precision and prepared to toss the anchor as several soaring pelicans flew overhead. I stood in awe as I watched schools of mullet flip-flopping along the otherwise serine surface. Settling in, it was now time to keep our eyes peeled for some toothy shallow water sharks, all the while hoping they didn’t have an agenda all their own. My level of anticipation and excitement was building with each passing minute. I refused to allow myself to be distracted by all of nature’s miraculous wonders as I concentrated on the task at hand. I was really looking forward to hooking up with one of the most challenging tackle testers that prowl our waters.

In the world of fishing, chumming and sharks go together like ice cream and apple pie. Sharks have a very keen sense of smell and more often than not any form of chum slick will entice sharks to come in for a closer look. All species of sharks also have a tremendous ability to sense distress signals. A wounded baitfish can be picked up and tracked from great distances by sensory glands located in the shark’s lateral lines. Captain Hubbard dropped our chum bag (frozen ground fish) over the side of the boat. He then began to toss over scoops of small minnows to create an even more inviting appeal. We took a moment to make sure our tackle was ready to face the challenge ahead. Sharp hooks and quality wire leaders are an absolute must for any shark fishing expedition. We baited two rods; one with live bait and the other with fresh dead bait, presenting them on both sides of our chum slick. Next we prepared a third rod with a live blue runner in hopes of getting a shot to sight cast to one of the toothy rockets.

A few moments later Captain Van shouted with great enthusiasm that a hefty blacktip was closing in on our chum line. I quickly got positioned and prepared to cast from the bow. I knew my cast had to be close enough so the shark could find my bait, yet not too close to spook the fish. My live blue runner landed about ten ft. up-current of my target. Bullseye! Within seconds the shark accelerated and devoured the helpless bait. I struck back and was now hooked up to my own version of "Jaws". Though the shark was no monster great white, the fight was plenty powerful. Long, drag-screeching runs kept me on my toes. As I was fighting my fish the skipper pointed out the area we were fishing was known to the locals as "shark city", which added a nice touch. The location earned its nick-name because many hooked tarpon are savagely attacked by enormous hammerhead sharks during tarpon season.

I fought the fish with great respect for quite a while, never doubting the strength this powerful adversary possessed. As the shark got closer, Captain Van climbed down from the mini-tower to assist with the release of the respectable blacktip. A four foot shark such as this one can easily do damage with just one slap of it’s tail, not to mention the devastation a mouth full of serrated razors could inflict if you were accidentally bitten. Sharks’ skin is also extremely abrasive and gloves are essential to protect delicate hands. I did my best to hold the leader tight; keeping the shark’s gapping mouth as far away from the captain’s hands as possible. It goes without saying that once a shark of any size is brought along-side, you must exercise extreme caution at all times. Make sure you have your camera set up ahead of time so you can quickly shoot some pictures before releasing your fish unharmed. Captain Hubbard made it a point to mention a shark of any species or any size is not something you want jumping around in your boat. Looking into this sharks eyes was enough to let me know this gamefish had a bad attitude and meant business!

So it went, another day in paradise. From many anglers’ perspective, Florida is one of the top destinations in the world to fish. There are an abundance of saltwater opportunities to choose from throughout the entire State. I was fortunate to experience first hand how thrilling shallow water shark fishing really is. I can honestly tell you I am looking forward to my next chance to do it again in the very near future. Finding fish in Florida is easy, catching them is challenging to say the least, but enjoying the experience no matter what the outcome is priceless.

If the opportunity presents itself to get out and hook into some skinny water sharks, you should jump at it; you will not be sorry you did. Shallow water sharks pack a powerful punch. If you’re looking to test your stamina against a worthy opponent, try sight casting to these toothy tackle testers. They can be found cruising around the passes as well as the beaches. At times, they can be as challenging to catch as bonefish, and at other times as aggressive as "jaws". If you do decide to keep one for the dinner table, make sure you gut it and ice it down as quickly as possible.
Until next time, ladies, get out there on the water. You don’t know what you’re missing!