Farther the better look for someone on a jet ski to help you, ask them. I have used balloons and kites also. Look at the Texas Shark Fishing site or Sharks in the Sand

If I can't physically see or tell where the sand bars are I use my paddle. Stick paddle in water vertically and try to feel for the bottom. You'll know when your in a gut when you cant feel the bottom.

Sounds like a lot of us are gearing up! Just made these the other night; still have varying weights to make the next couple of weeks. Leaders are already made! Come on 70 degree water temps!!!

I literally bought a $10 raft at Walmart for the trips before I had a kayak. I did most of my shark fishing at night and after seeing some of the sharks pulled out of PINS, I never waded at night again. Daytime I spent fishing for specks, reds, kings, smacks and anything else. That is also when I would sleep. Night time was for shark fishing and my bonfire. No shortage of driftwood so you could have a bonfire the whole night.

No more offset hook and no J hooks and they have to be non stainless. Makes for a pain as last year I caught over 60 sharks on 10/0 J hooks with no issues. Now I'm using a Eagle claw 18/0 black chome circle hook for shark charters. Hooks cost 10x more than what they did before.

Good luck, I'm a year into it and it's addictive! Took a trip out last weekend but struck out other than a few reds and limited out on black drum a couple of days.

Fresh bait is the best but you can always pick some up at the bait shops around. Sounds like you'll be using cast outs so wade out to the second gut and let it rip. I'll usually have a couple of rods in the first gut for bait using Fish Bites. I'll use a triple hook rig and will catch reds, drum, and whiting. I'll use a couple of larger rods with cast out leaders (steel coded) for the shark and bull reds with fresh cut bait. If you get into the larger equipment you'll need a kayak to run the baits out and will use baits like ray, jacks and drum. If the surf is too rough, I'll swim my baits out to the second gut.

This is some of the stuff I use and not affiliated with any of them.

These bait rigs are awesome. https://www.justbittenfishingtackle..._________________________________.html#/

I buy my spider weights from a guy on Facebook - Donnie Tidwell - best I've used for the 8oz-1lb spider weights - He also sells leaders

For some of the toughest leaders - https://www.catchsharks.com/

When shark fishing from the boat I have been using 10' of 400lb mono. I have only had one fish bite through it.

several other people have mentioned what tackle to use.... a standard steel leader, a decent sized hook and a spider weight. Before you set everything out, take as many 4-5ft 2-3" pvc pipes and pound them into the sand as rod holders. I try to find an area of the beach with some clay as they hold better.

We fished this way off Bolivar for years before we had a boat...bull reds and sharks are plentiful. As matter of fact, if you're standing in the water along the TX coast, you're likely within 100 yards of a shark at all times.

I am planning to be in Galveston for a week in the month of June. Bringing my shark/redfish/surf fishing gear. Going by the phase of the moon and tides can anyone recommend the best week to go ?

I think we need to have a TFF shark tournament this summer out of Crystal beach/high island area. fri-sun.. anyone interested?

I�d try to make it

Great idea. Definitely interested.

If we could get enough people to make it worthwhile, I�d do the legwork to try and coordinate it. In the event we can�t get something established, we could just pick a good weekend and set up relatively close to each other and hang out. A shark fishing meet and greet if you will.

I might be interested, if I�m able to get off work.