Spinner Shark (Note the extra Blacktip on the small fin just forward of the tail fin)

Sharks, Sharks and More Sharks

Blacktip Shark (The distinct tan color Z pattern is a great tell for Spinners and Blacktips)

Bull Shark (Stout, rounded nose, small dorsal fin. Always a good idea to keep a pitch rod ready cobia love to follow these tanks)

Lemon Shark (Double Dorsal fins, long and skinny)

Silky Shark (Long skinny, large tail and other fins)

Jaws, Bruce, Taxman or whatever other Rated R name you give him when he decides that nice fish you just hooked is his dinner. There is no denying that shark depredation, as the scientists call it, has gotten worse and worse in recent years. So bad in fact it’s essentially redefined my approach to our fisheries whether that be inshore or offshore it seems like they’re always watching.

Before we get to far into some of the strategy on how to avoid them we first have to look into their behavior. In my non-scientific studies I have found the behavior isn’t a random occurrence over and over again. But something the sharks have learned. They equate the sounds and feel of a boat to mean food. That could be your trolling motor, outboard or even sonar keying them into your position. Once you’re located they will maintain a safe distance and follow you until a prey they deem suitable is near. I have observed this in two distinct ways, the first is when offshore trolling the sharks will get 20-30 feet below the transom and simply swim with you. The second involves your vessel being stationary and circling below. When circling I find it allows more time for more individuals to key in on you. Making it nearly impossible at times to combat them for your prized catch. This also means when they find you they are patient and don’t mind waiting.

Inshore including the jetty it is most common to find black tip and spinner sharks. At a common 5-6’ in length these cats are plentiful and aggressive. Able to go from 0-100 before that mangrove snapper knew what hit him. The further up river your shark interaction the more likely its going to be a Lemon, Bull or Sandbar shark. Top offender being the Bull Sharks. The Bulls are large, powerful and quick when they want to be making them a formidable opponent. I would much rather deal with 3/4 sandbar sharks than a single Bull Shark. Lemons tend to be on the lazier side but don’t let that fool you, they are more than stout and will stay hidden most of the time. Sandbars are less intelligent and slower but what they lose in that they make up for in numbers. A great way to avoid the more formidable opponents is to fish further up river. While this doesn’t completely mean you’re safe you will be far less likely to encounter the man in the gray suit.

Offshore your opponents are mostly the same. But trade out Black tips for large Silky sharks but multiply the number of sharks by a lot. With the clearer water offshore it’s much easier to see when the hunter has become the hunted. This will give you a distinct advantage seeing which places have more sharks than others as it does vary day by day at times. On average 80-130 pound tackle is used aboard my boat for a better landing rate making offshore sharks a little easier to beat on the way to the top as well as some of the larger offshore fish not getting messed with due to their size. Cobia and Triggerfish tend to be messed with the least whether that is from their tough skin or the fish gods giving us a small reprieve for whatever reason I guess we won’t know.

Now that we understand the basics of how, what and why the sharks find us appealing we can get into a few ways i’ve found it best to avoid them. The lower the water temperature the slower the sharks move, this came in to play even during the summer as we had an upwelling that dropped the water causing the sharks that hang down low to move much much slower while the first few feet was still warm. Inshore this can be used in the winter months as we get so cold it forces the sharks to migrate to warmer waters. Using heavier than needed tackle to muscle fish in has helped some days its not always possible to out reel these beasts once they get their eyes on the prize. Spot selection is incredibly important, knowing ahead of time whether you’re likely to encounter sharks can change your approach right off the start and lead to an extra fish or two. With the sharks being trained overtime to know boats equals food you can also choose places that aren’t as commonly fished. Picking a piece of low relief natural bottom vs. the high impact barge or other artificial reef makes a huge difference in the number of sharks dealt with. Now that you’ve picked a less commonly fished area offshore with appropriate tackle and on an area of cold water you still get taxed and the fishing is great now what!? Thats easy, act like you’re going to leave. Power up make a huge half circle and come right back into the spot from the other side. You are likely to be able to catch a fish or two before the herd catches back up to you and ends your fun. You aren’t stuck in one place move around be fluid!

Inshore this is more challenging as the fish may be hanging behind one rock and not the other vs spread out like offshore. In that case chalk it up to a loss and keep moving. Killing a dozen fish in search of getting one to the boat is futile and not morally correct. The shallower water or the further up river you go the better.