Shark Fishing Equipment

Here’s a summary of essential shark fishing equipment:

1. Rod:
2. Length: 7-12 feet (10-12 feet for shore fishing, 7-8 feet for boat fishing)
3. Power: Heavy to extra-heavy
4. Action: Moderate to fast
5. Line Rating: 50-100 lb or higher

6. Recommended models: 11′ Penn Battalion 2, 12′ Penn Squadron or Daiwa FT

7. Reel:

8. Types: Conventional (lever drag) or large spinning reels
9. Size: 6500-8000 for spinning, 30-50 size for conventional
10. Line Capacity: Minimum 300-400 yards
11. Drag Strength: 30+ lbs

12. Recommended models: Penn Squall 50w, Daiwa BG 6500/8000

13. Line:

14. Braided line: 50-65 lb for smaller sharks, 80-130 lb for larger sharks

15. Some anglers use a combination of braid and monofilament

16. Leader:

17. Length: At least 20 feet total

18. Two-part construction:
    a) Bite trace: 5 feet of 400-480 lb multi-strand wire
    b) Rubbing leader: 12-15 feet of wire

19. Hooks:

20. Circle hooks are recommended (e.g., 12/0 Eagle Claw L2004 Circle Sea for smaller sharks)

21. Sizes 8/0 and higher for larger sharks

22. Floats:

23. Biodegradable latex balloons with special clips

24. Inline shark floats

25. Additional Equipment:

26. Swivels and snap-swivels
27. Weights (for strong tides)
28. Bait (live, dead, or artificial lures)

Remember to match your equipment to the size of sharks you’re targeting and your fishing location (shore vs. boat). It’s often worth investing in quality gear for shark fishing due to the size and power of these fish.

Citations:
[1] https://www.rokmax.com/blogs/news-and-advice/2018-shark-fishing-season-guide
[2] https://www.reddit.com/r/SurfFishing/comments/pqyy4u/what_size_spinning_rod_and_reel_should_i_get_for/
[3] https://fishingbooker.com/blog/shark-fishing/
[4] https://sandbartackle.com/portfolio-item/how-to-catch-sharks/
[5] https://fishyourassoff.com/how-much-drag-for-shark-fishing.html
[6] https://www.talkseafishing.co.uk/articles/getting-started-with-shark-fishing.1492/
[7] https://www.gerrysfishing.com/product-category/sea-fishing/shark-fishing/
[8] https://www.reelcoquinafishing.com/blogs/florida-fishing-blog/what-is-drag-in-fishing