Florida fifth report - baby sharks

[BenCantrell]

Yesterday we got out for some more near shore fishing along the Treasure Coast. The sun was hot at 8am, and the launch was easy.



I was in the mood to paddle, so I spent the day trolling and left the bait and live bait hooks at home. I had a Rapala X-Rap 10 on one rod and a Rapala X-Rap 12 (front of the package says Slashbait) on the other. We paddled outside the outer edge of reef where it drops from 16 ft to 20-25 ft. My X-Rap 10 got picked up by a juvenile shark.



I circled around and trolled the same stretch and got hit again. Another shark. They're either blacktips or spinners. I'm not convinced one way or the other, but from the people I've talked to there have been more votes for blacktip, so I won't count spinner as a new species.



Spinner sharks are supposed to have black tips on all their fins, including the anal fin. My second one had a black smudge on its anal fin. Not sure if that's enough to call it though.



I caught a third shark but didn't bother taking a photo. They were definitely schooling that day. My X-Rap 12 also got hit by something, and whatever it was towed me for about 200 yards. It was hugging the bottom and shaking it's head. I was patient, but eventually I had to get it to start moving upward, and when I put a little more pressure on it, the treble hook pulled. I'm guessing it was a grouper, but I suppose it could have been a larger model shark.



I had one more hit, again on the X-Rap 12. Something very fast was on the line for all of 1 second, and then leader got cut. It was too fast to be a shark, and they all bit the back treble of the lure, so I'm guessing it was a king mackerel or cuda.

Ally didn't have any luck trolling, so she pulled out her bag of shrimp and jigged the bottom. She caught a mutton snapper and a big sheepshead.



Landing was pretty easy, but coming in backwards was key. There was a small sandbar with a trough right against the beach where the waves really wanted to turn and roll you.



Miles: 8.7
Hours: 4:47
Water Temp: 81

Next time bottom fishing! That reef drop-off looked pretty interesting, and I saw some nice boulders in 20-25 ft. We'd like to see what else is down there.

[daperrin]

Thanks for the report. Very interesting. I miss kayak fishing Pensacola much more interesting than the Pacific.

[SoCalEDC]

Man I am envious of the weather every time you share you excursions

[BenCantrell]

Originally Posted by daperrin

Thanks for the report. Very interesting. I miss kayak fishing Pensacola much more interesting than the Pacific.

Thanks, there can be a lot going on here depending on the day. I don't know though, I really fell in love with the access to deep water on the west coast.

Originally Posted by SoCalEDC

Man I am envious of the weather every time you share you excursions

Yeah, but the afternoon storms with lightning here are legit. I wouldn't mind fishing through some rain, but when you here the thunder in the distance you have to pack it in.

[JohnMckroidJr]

Nice Report! I always wonder about fishing off the Treasure Coast, your reports confirm some of what I expected.

As for your first big bite: Sharks normally just feel like dead weight, but then they will usually shake their head a couple of times just before making a run. The groupers that I have taken shake their head the entire time until they get the bends or swim understructure. I sometimes see big tarpon taken by kayak off the beach up that way, so that might be in your future. They usually jump when first hooked.

As for your second strike, My guess is the same as yours, first being a King, second a Cuda, but sometimes a big shark will run hard also, so ya never know.

Originally Posted by BenCantrell

Yeah, but the afternoon storms with lightning here are legit. I wouldn't mind fishing through some rain, but when you here the thunder in the distance you have to pack it in.

Very true. If I see it flashing in the distance, I am still fishing. If I didn't, I would rarely get out. When it gets to be close enough to hear the thunder within seconds of the flash, I pack it in Or if my rods start buzzing. The last time out the rods started buzzing. When that happens, stow them horizontally and the buzzing stops, and it is time to head for the beach.

[JohnMckroidJr]

Originally Posted by daperrin

Thanks for the report. Very interesting. I miss kayak fishing Pensacola much more interesting than the Pacific.

Pensacola is awesome! Only fished there once, but was able to cross a big Redfish and Keeper Red Snapper off the kayak bucket list. Night fishing under the bridges in the bay was incredible. Easy peasy catching live bait off the beach there. Not as many big blue water species, but an amazing variety and a great fishery.

[BenCantrell]

Originally Posted by JohnMckroidJr

As for your second strike, My guess is the same as yours, first being a King, second a Cuda, but sometimes a big shark will run hard also, so ya never know.

Hey John, question for you... if you're trolling a small lure like an X-Rap 10 or 12, would you use a wire leader? I'm guessing the answer is no, but if you get bit off, then add wire to the next lure you put on. Curious what your thoughts are though. I keep a pack of silver 12 inch 30 lb wire leaders in my lure box, but I haven't been using them.

I'm replacing all the trebles with Owner 3x inline singles. Next big fish that nails one of my trolling lures is going to stay on!

In other news, a shark expert from FSU says the ones I caught are indeed spinners.

[JohnMckroidJr]

Originally Posted by BenCantrell

Hey John, question for you... if you're trolling a small lure like an X-Rap 10 or 12, would you use a wire leader? I'm guessing the answer is no, but if you get bit off, then add wire to the next lure you put on. Curious what your thoughts are though. I keep a pack of silver 12 inch 30 lb wire leaders in my lure box, but I haven't been using them.

I'm replacing all the trebles with Owner 3x inline singles. Next big fish that nails one of my trolling lures is going to stay on!

In other news, a shark expert from FSU says the ones I caught are indeed spinners.

Ben your guess is correct. Most of the time I don't use a wire, since wires usually mean less strikes. If I do put one on, I use 40lb AFW 1x7 surfstrand tied with a figure 8 knot. I use an 80lb spro swivel. Spro makes much smaller swivels, but if the diameter of the swivel ring is smaller than the diameter of your line, there is a risk of the knot cutting on the ring.

Be super cautious while unhooking fish on multihook lures. The temptation to grab the fish and unhook it by hand is great, but all it takes is one wrong shake of the fish to find the one free hook in your hand. Best to use pliers.
Congrats on adding Spinner Sharks to your life catch list!

[BenCantrell]

Thanks!