How to Bait Sharks
Shark fishing is an exciting sport. It also provides specialty foods for restaurants and markets. You can fish for sharks from boats or off of piers. In some areas, you can go surf fishing for sharks. Whatever option you choose, here's how to bait sharks.
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Instructions
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Throw chum out on the water to attract sharks. Chum is made of cut up pieces of all kinds of fish and seafood, including the heads. You can even add pieces of ham, turkey or chicken. The bloodier your bucket of chum is, the better as blood attracts sharks.
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Use just the head of a large fish for another way to bait sharks. Grouper, bonito, bluefish and jacks are all good to use for bait when shark fishing. Put a large circle hook through the eyes.
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Have a single hook leader with a circle hook set and ready for using a live fish to bait sharks. Hook behind the dorsal (back) fin on the top side of the fish. Allow the fish to swim behind the boat on long fishing line. Keep it out far enough so that it doesn't get tangled in the boat motor. Hooking the fish bait this way keeps it alive for some time and gives the fish an injured look which attracts sharks.
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Take extra measures when using a dead, whole fish for bait. Secure the hook to the bait by feeding the hook through the mouth of the fish and out the gills. The bigger the fish you're using to bait sharks, the more hooks you must use. For an 18 inch fish, use two hooks. Place the first hook (the one close to the main line) just below the gills of the fish. Place the next hook one to two inches apart. Take a 20 inch piece of wax-coated string and lay it flat. Place your whole fish in the middle of the string with the hooks facing up. Wrap the two ends of string around the bait and through the eye of each hook. Turn the bait over and tie a square knot, thus preventing a shark from stealing the bait and making his bite easier to hook.
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Tips & Warnings
Fish responsibly and with conservation in mind. Sharks don't reproduce quickly or regularly. Remember, they are an important part of the food chain.
