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Last Updated on August 23, 2024 by Paul Clayton
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Shark Rigs for Surf Fishing That Won’t Fail
Fishing for sharks with the sound of the surf beating the beach or rocks around you is a rush. When a shark takes your bait, it’s a fantastic fight that is not easily forgotten. Regardless if you’re looking to hook a hammerhead, blacktip, or lemon head, we have a shark rig for surf fishing that’s proven itself again and again and can even be used to land hammerheads that are more than 12 feet in length.
However, it should be noted that this surf fishing shark rig is best used for casting from a beach and for targeting sharks that are roughly in the 6-foot range.
Surf Fishing Shark Bait
The two most important parts when it comes to shark fishing are the bait that you’re using and the rig. Fresh bait should be your number one priority; if you don’t have decent bait, it doesn’t matter how fancy your rig is. One of the best and easiest ways to secure fresh shark bait is to cozy up to a fishmonger or fish market; most will be more than happy to give away a bag of fish heads and carcasses at no additional cost.
You might also have luck when fishing charter boats come in; a few beers might secure the carcasses from the customer’s catches.
If you have enough time, you can also catch your own. Taking a cast net with you while you walk along the shore can bag you a few mullets, but this is a skill in itself and can be a frustrating experience if you’re trying this in clear waters.
Lastly, frozen will do in a pinch if you’re struggling to secure fresh bait. Most tackle shops will have freezers full of a range of frozen baits. It’s also worth asking if they have any fresh baits available.
My first choice is bluefish for fresh bait, followed closely by small jacks or ladyfish, but really, whatever you can get your hands on should work reasonably well. Once we’ve got the bait sorted, it’s time to move on to the best shark rigs for surf fishing.
Whatever bait fish you use should be no bigger than the palm of your hand.
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Shark Rigs for Surf Fishing
To make our shark rig, we’ll need a few items to start with. Most of these items can be bought from your local tackle store or Amazon.
- Fishing Wire
- Monofilament line rated for between 80 and 100 pounds
- A red plastic bead
- A range of pyramid sinkers of between 4 and 8 ounces
- Nail clippers of scissors for trimming the mono-line
- Swivels that are rated for at least 100 pounds
- A range of Mustard Demon Perfect Circle hooks in sizes between 7/0 and 10/0
- A decent shark rod, we currently recommend the 12-foot Penn Prevail Heavy
You’ll need a rod between 10 and 12 feet to get your bait out into the surf.
Anything that is under 10 feet is going to hinder your ability to cast any great distance, which will restrict your ability to catch a shark.
Setting The Shark Rig Up
A quick tip about the hook: In my experience, a 7/0 hook is the sweet spot for shark fishing. It’s perfectly sized for a shark that is 6 feet long or under, but that doesn’t mean it won’t work for larger sharks as well. I’ve successfully hooked sharks that are larger than 10 feet with a 7/0 hook, so it also works for bigger mouths.
Step 1
The first part of this rig starts with the wire that will be attached to the hook. Measure out and cut a piece of the fishing wire, which is 2 feet long. Next, attach one of the swivels to the wire using a haywire twist. For more information on how to perform a haywire twist, please see the video below courtesy of the Saltwater Experience:
This video has been included to clarify the topic. Credit goes to
Saltwater Experience
Once firmly attached to the swivel, we will attach the fishing hook to the other end of the fishing wire using another haywire twist.
Congratulations, you’ve now completed the leader part of the shark rig
Step 2
In this second section of the rig setup, we will create the section to which the weight will be attached. Portion out around 1 foot of 80 to 100-pound monofilament. Attach the other swivel using a uni knot on one end of the mono line. If you’d like to see how to tie a uni knot, please see the video below:
This video has been included to clarify the topic. Credit goes to Saltwater Experience
We must now create a loop with the monofilament line to attach the weight. To do so, take the free end of the mono line and tie it onto the same swivel eye, again using a uni knot. This creates a loop of mono line with both ends tied onto the same swivel eye.
This simple technique avoids the need for expensive, complicated mechanisms such as thimbles or crimps. You can also use this weight rig for any number of bottom rigs.
To attach the pyramid weight to the monoline setup, pinch the loop ends together and feed them through the weight eye. Now, feed the swivel through the loop that’s been fed through the weight eye and pull it tight.
This firmly attaches the weight to the swivel monofilament rig and is better than most other, more complicated methods.
Step 3
Measure out and cut another 4 feet of the 80 to 100-pound mono fishing line, which will act as the leader. Slide the sinker rigs, swivel the eye onto the leader, and then slide on a plastic bead.
Next, attach the wire and hook portion of the rig to the leader section by tying it onto the swivel using a uni knot.
The beauty of this simple surf fishing shark rig is that the weight can freely slide along the line. This means that when a shark takes the bait, it won’t feel the tug of the weight. In turn, this leads to an increased success rate regarding setting the hook in the shark’s mouth.
Step 4
The last step in this rig setup is to attach the leader line to your main line. There are a couple of ways to accomplish this, depending on the line you’re using as your main. If your main line is monofilament, you can use a uni-to-uni knot to attach the two ends. However, if your main line is braided, you’ll want to use an FG knot to attach the two ends. Once that’s done, you’ll all set to catch yourself some shark.
This video has been included to clarify the topic. Credit goes to Salt Strong
Landing a Shark
Now that you’ve sorted your shark fishing rig, you’re ready to head to the surf and land that monster.
We have some additional points to ensure you’ll have a great time. Never fish for sharks alone; always fish with a buddy. This is for your safety as well as the well-being of the sharks.
Once you have the shark in the shallows, you will need a friend to hold onto your rod while you approach the shark. If it’s a monster, you might need a rope to pull the shark gently into shallower water. If it’s a smaller shark, you can just as easily grasp their pectoral or tails to pull it backward; never handle them by their gills.
Always make sure the shark remains facing out to sea so that they can continue to breathe with the help of the waves coming in. Don’t pull them out of the water onto the harder sand; keep them as comfortable as you can but firmly in place so that you can safely remove the hook.
Always Release a Shark
The number one rule of shark fishing is releasing the shark back into the water. You’ll have under two minutes to dehook the shark and get it back into the ocean. Larger sharks only have young every few years; to let one die for no reason is an absolute travesty and should be avoided at all costs.
Once you’ve landed the shark, your priority is to get the hook out ASAP. So, make sure you’re prepared with the following items:
- Dehooker
- Good quality wire cutters
- Good quality bolt cutters
You have ten seconds to remove the hook from the shark’s mouth using the dehooker. If after 10 seconds you still haven’t been able to remove the hook, use the wire cutters or bolt cutters to snap the hook in two and remove it that way. A shark’s life is worth far more than the cost of a shark hook.
This should have taken less than 20 seconds, so now you have 20 seconds to take any photos you might want. Either take a group shot or leave the shark in the water and take your photos that way; don’t cause unnecessary stress to the shark. After 20 seconds, you must get the shark back into the ocean.
Push the shark back into the surf face first, once it’s in deep enough water it should swim off by itself. It’s time to pat yourself on the back and drink a beer in celebration.
Wrapping Up
Whether you’re a seasoned angler or a newbie looking for some thrills, these shark rigs for surf fishing are your go-to. They’re like the Swiss army knife of surf fishing: versatile, reliable, and they won’t let you down. Heck, they might make shark fishing feel like a walk in the park!
So, gear up and get ready to reel in some serious bragging rights.
Remember, this game of fishing for sharks is about the catch and the tools you wield. Go ahead, try these shark rigs, and watch as the sharks RSVP to your bait party!
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