Hey guys-

If we were to fish for sharks off of PINS in our boat, what kind of line and hooks would you need? Obviously, a wire leader, but that is about all I know. I was thinking braid and a 6/0 to 12/0 hook, but am unsure if that is correct and would like a little more info on just the setup in general. Would you just rig up a chopped whiting on that? Thanks for all the help guys!

check out http://groups.msn.com/TEXASSHARKFISHING/homepage.msnw
these guys are the shark fishing gods

check the shark fishing handbook tons of info in there, most is about land based fishing but a shark is a shark

12/0 hooks would be on the smallish side. Think big like 17/0 hooks and beefed up cable instead of wire. If you can get some stingray wings, they are the bait of choice in the surf.

Thanks guys. That is a great site!

You can always tell the people who have never caught a shark in Texas they think they are all Jaws....

I use 10/0 to 15/0 hooks whatever is available at the tackel shop. I typically use a 6-8 foot 200# mono shock leader (make sure that the shock leader is longer than the target shark otherwise the tail will cut your main line), but have used light steel cable before too.

Stingray is a good bait *IF* your able to get it. Bonita, large shad, mullet are all good as well.

Here is an almost sure bet to catch sharks. Get about 1-6 miles off the beach and just drift some ribbonfish and cut mullet at different depths. You can chum if you want but not necessary. We always use the same rig as for kingfish and have very little trouble. Most of the sharks you are gonna catch are gonna be less than 100 lbs. Last trip out we set a big rod out with a whole bluefish on it and actually got bit 3 times but only got a hook in one of the fish and it later came unlatched.

Croakerdrowner;

I'll take that sure bet I got to Port A Saturday night, got up Sunday morning and went out 6 miles, drifted back at least 4 miles w/ Cut Shad and Ribbon fish out and got ZERO!

This week so far has been hard to get on fish period let along on shark for us. Between the wind, the rain and the waves it's been brutal. I would hit some of the bay areas but left all the light tackel in Allen.

If you fish from a boat you don't have to use a large leader and hook like you do when you surf fish. You can use 30# mono and I'd use a size 10 or 12 circle hook but bigger is OK. Match the hook to the bait you are using. A bluefish is really good bait like croakerdowner says and like Michial Thompson said Bonita, large shad, mullet, and I'll add jackfish are excellent baits.

Hate to hear that Michial. We have always had more sharks than we wanted to deal with out there. A few weeks ago we were out of Galveston and hit a pipestand on the way in at about 5 miles out and were swarmed with sharks. Had one nice ling come up but couldn't get a bait to him for the sharks. My experiences have mostly been around Galveston and Freeport but had heard it was the same all over the gulf. Another good plan is to get behind a shrimper that is dragging. They chum for you and sharks are normally plentiful behind them. Mr ling shows up alot of time too along with bonita.

Shrimp season is closed right now, or at least there are no shrimpers running.

My experiences have all been Galveston as well, I used to come to Port A for pier and charter fishing, this is my first time with my boat. Learning a lot and having lots of fun learning.

Sunday was out first day to get offshore, and it was my fault I caught nothing. I tried to use Freshwater Perch for bait, and should have known better. Shad has been hard to buy, seems that most of the bait shops have been out and I don't have a cast net with me for collecting my own bait.

Mon/Tue were too rough to make offshore and again having all heavy gear kinda limits the bay fishing. I did get some good side imaging views of the wreck in the channel, I'll post them on my blog tonight if I get a chance.

This morning we did catch our first shark, kinda funny though. We all got up at 5am after not getting to bed until 1am. We went out to Boatmen's reef and freelined shad. We were all sprawled out asleep on the deck of the boat when a three footer decided to give us a wakeup call.

I forgot how loud a Penn 114's clicker was with a shark running at full speed. After we all got the WTF look off our faces everyone did just what was needed and the shark was on deck pretty quick.

Taking a few steaks over to Pelican's Landing later today to have them cook it for us. We got at least 7 pounds of steaks out of that one shark.

Michael,
We hit the stand pipes today and found kingfish but no sharks, we were drifting to fast. We could have limited but I had 2 sea sick passengers and had to head in after about an hour.

KQT;

I think if I would have had a ribbon fish out yesterday I could have gotten a king or two. When the boys brought the Shark rods in they had some nicely cut shad on them.

Today I plan to try the 66ft wreck, and throw a ribbon fish out to see how it works out. If the wreck doesn't pan out I will head back to boatman's reef and try it again.

Cut some holes in a 5 gal bucket put some chumin it and hang it over the boat. Manhadin oil is great to add to the bucket.This will make a great slick as you drift. I would use the cut bonita because it bleeds so much. You want your bait to drift up top in the slick.

bluwave;

I am in a hotel, the last thing they want me doing is making chum

This trip has been horrible for finding any of the better baits, noplace on the island had shad, had to find it in Aransas Pass, finding bonita is impossible. Stingray has been scarce too...

About the only thing I can find in plenty is Manhaden oil