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From a yak less than 12foot?!!! Don't!
Alex
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I apologize for being a smart a#@, but only had a few seconds free to reply yesterday.
Incidentally catching a small shark, <3ft, say while king fishing, is one thing. But if you plan to deliberately target sharks from a kayak, you need to consider how big some of these sharks you may hook can be. Unless you are in a very specific situation where you can sight-cast to a shark of known size, you will have NO control what-so-ever of the size shark that eats your bait.
Compare the following numbers to the stats on your yak: 11ft 6inches long, 60lbs kayak weight, 350lbs carrying capacity.
It could be a little 3ft black tip, or how about a pissed-off 7foot 200ish lbs bull shark, or even a 16ft 1,000lbs+ Mako, or anything in between! There are professional shark-fishermen that WILL NOT target sharks from motorboats less than 18ft because of the danger involved.
Also, DO NOT target sharks solo. There need to be at least 3 of you WEARING you PDFs the whole time. You all need to have knives and wire cutters attached to the jackets, in case SHTF and you need to cut the shark off. Don't even think about trying for a double-header. If 1 person hooks up, everyone else needs to stop fishing and pull in their lines to help if needed.
All this is not to say "Don't ever target sharks from a kayak!". A few friends and I plan on trying for a few small blacktips inshore this season. However, it'll be in a group of us in big kayaks (ex: mine is a 16footer). You may get different answers from some of the other guys, but I'd say wait till you have at least a 12-13ft yak, 14ft would be even better. Or you can go out with someone who has a big yak to spare.
Alex
Incidentally catching a small shark, <3ft, say while king fishing, is one thing. But if you plan to deliberately target sharks from a kayak, you need to consider how big some of these sharks you may hook can be. Unless you are in a very specific situation where you can sight-cast to a shark of known size, you will have NO control what-so-ever of the size shark that eats your bait.
Compare the following numbers to the stats on your yak: 11ft 6inches long, 60lbs kayak weight, 350lbs carrying capacity.
It could be a little 3ft black tip, or how about a pissed-off 7foot 200ish lbs bull shark, or even a 16ft 1,000lbs+ Mako, or anything in between! There are professional shark-fishermen that WILL NOT target sharks from motorboats less than 18ft because of the danger involved.
Also, DO NOT target sharks solo. There need to be at least 3 of you WEARING you PDFs the whole time. You all need to have knives and wire cutters attached to the jackets, in case SHTF and you need to cut the shark off. Don't even think about trying for a double-header. If 1 person hooks up, everyone else needs to stop fishing and pull in their lines to help if needed.
All this is not to say "Don't ever target sharks from a kayak!". A few friends and I plan on trying for a few small blacktips inshore this season. However, it'll be in a group of us in big kayaks (ex: mine is a 16footer). You may get different answers from some of the other guys, but I'd say wait till you have at least a 12-13ft yak, 14ft would be even better. Or you can go out with someone who has a big yak to spare.
Alex
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I will have to disagree with Alex. I have caught bulls, sandbars, blacktips and dusky's up to about 250+lbs from the yak and can tell you that once worn out they actually handle very easily next to the yak. I always keep a heavier setup on board if I'm going to intentionally shark fish. My setup is a Shimano Torium 30 with 40lb line (mono) on a Seeker heavy action, live bait style rod. I prefer mono over braid because of the possibility of the braid making contact with you or your yak under pressure from a big shark. Your pelican will be fine, I watched a guy land a big blacktip from a O.K. Frenzy last year which is even smaller.
As far as rigging, I first attach a 20ft section of 60-80lb mono directly to my main line as a wind on shock leader. For my trace leader, I use 3 feet of various size cable or singlestrand (whatever is on hand of at least 100# works) and a 8/0-10/0 wide gap circle hook. I use an oversized barrel swivel at the top of the leader to get a better hold of once close. Just be aware that sharks will almost always take off on a couple more runs once close to yak so if you do grab the leader in a short time, get ready to let go once he thrashes and dives again.
As far as rigging, I first attach a 20ft section of 60-80lb mono directly to my main line as a wind on shock leader. For my trace leader, I use 3 feet of various size cable or singlestrand (whatever is on hand of at least 100# works) and a 8/0-10/0 wide gap circle hook. I use an oversized barrel swivel at the top of the leader to get a better hold of once close. Just be aware that sharks will almost always take off on a couple more runs once close to yak so if you do grab the leader in a short time, get ready to let go once he thrashes and dives again.
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yeah D...i agree with both tunnapopper and alex....a 250# shark ought to be ok...but it would deff mind F$%^ me if either one of us hooked up with a 1000# mako!!!!we'll give it a shot this summer bro!
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Chris,
No worries man. I'm still a little gun shy since I haven't caught that many sharks from my yak yet. Mostly from shore at this point. We'll see if/how my thoughts change this season as I try to get that side of my experience filled out.
Besides, I was mostly trying to emphasize the relative danger involved to avoid being accused of saying "Go for it man!" Just in case something bad happens later and someone tries to sue us for it. You never can be too careful with all these frivolous lawsuits nowadays.
Alex
P.S. Shark fishing out of an Ocean Kayak Frenzy?! Man, your friend is ballsy!!! Bet that was an awesome sleigh ride.
No worries man. I'm still a little gun shy since I haven't caught that many sharks from my yak yet. Mostly from shore at this point. We'll see if/how my thoughts change this season as I try to get that side of my experience filled out.
Besides, I was mostly trying to emphasize the relative danger involved to avoid being accused of saying "Go for it man!" Just in case something bad happens later and someone tries to sue us for it. You never can be too careful with all these frivolous lawsuits nowadays.
Alex
P.S. Shark fishing out of an Ocean Kayak Frenzy?! Man, your friend is ballsy!!! Bet that was an awesome sleigh ride.
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last season was my first going offshore and I really wanted to avoid sharks till I got my sea legs. I was headed out to the Mass with Mark M. He was 10 yards in front when he yelled Hey here comes a shark. He was on a collision coursewith the shark. The shark changed course a bit to avoid the kayak and Mark turned back toward him. Crazy Marine! Next came a loud thump when Mark's kayak ran head on into the shark. Mark was rolling with laughter. The experience took part of the edge off. I hung a few last season but only got a small one next to the boat.
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I like to wear out any big shark before I get him up next to me in the kayak. The last thing you want is a green shark hitting your kayak and other stuff. My 6 to 7 foot tiger shark that I caught after along tug a war just kinda laid there when I finally got him up. To me when the sharks energy has worn down is the best time to get them up take a pic and let them go.
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My 2 cents:
A shark is never "worn out". I beach caught one a few years back and it was too big for the ice chest I had on the beach. I clubbed the hell out of it and then let it sit on the sand for 45 minutes to make sure it was dead. I was dragging it by the tail to the truck and the damn thing came alive and nearly bit my hand. (If you have not worked with sharks before be aware, they can bite their own tail and your hand on it). This shark sat in my big ice chest for another hour and was still banging around on the ride home.
Be very careful out there. I have caught big sharks. They can be docile...or not. As Ferd often says, a lot of things can happen on the water and 90% of them are bad.
Be safe.
Ted
A shark is never "worn out". I beach caught one a few years back and it was too big for the ice chest I had on the beach. I clubbed the hell out of it and then let it sit on the sand for 45 minutes to make sure it was dead. I was dragging it by the tail to the truck and the damn thing came alive and nearly bit my hand. (If you have not worked with sharks before be aware, they can bite their own tail and your hand on it). This shark sat in my big ice chest for another hour and was still banging around on the ride home.
Be very careful out there. I have caught big sharks. They can be docile...or not. As Ferd often says, a lot of things can happen on the water and 90% of them are bad.
Be safe.
Ted
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Ok I guess "worn out". wasn't the best way to describe it but just don't bring themup GREEN
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+1
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<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; COLOR: #1f5080; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">I have caught a lot of sharks of all sizes in my kayak and I personally consider them a nuisance. I would not recommend what this guy did last week:<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; COLOR: #1f5080; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana; COLOR: #1f5080; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2010/feb/07/riviera-beach-fisherman-bit-shark/?partner=yahoo_feeds
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