If you have never went fishing for sharks before, then you will need to know some basic information before you get out there. Sharks are very aggressive and can also be very dangerous, so I will go over what you need to know about shark fishing.

If it is your main goal to actually catch a shark, the best time to do it is in May if you are in Florida. The temperature is not too hot and it will attract more of the predators you seek. If you decide to fish for sharks in the middle of the summer, you should be aware of water temperatures and try to find the coolest spot possible.

There are some main fishing items you will need before you go shark fishing. This will consist of multiple fishing rods, the more lines you have out the better chance you have of catching a big one. These fishing rods and reels should hold at least 200 yards of line and at least 60 pound test.

A good fishing rod to use is a fifty to eighty pound class rod. You should not forget your harness and safety straps. In addition, you want to remember your bait and chum, running chum is the most effective way to trap a shark so be prepared for a mess onboard.

You will need to know what species of shark you are fishing for, this will give you an idea of what size hook and bait you will need. Once you have that figured out and have the chum in the water it is time to get the fishing lines in.

Once you hook up with a shark for the first time, you better be ready and have your safety strap on. Some sharks will run form the boat while others will charge towards you making the fight easier in some cases, also some sharks will drag the bait while others will just take it in quickly with one bite.

Now that you have the shark close to the boat, your experienced sidekick will be able to help. You will want to hand wire the shark into the boat. Hand wires are meant to be sturdy and they will not break if you are attached to them. Do not wrap the wire around your hand because you want to be able to let go of the wire easily if you have to. If you are keeping a shark, you will need to gaff and rope it by its tail.

Sharks should only be kept if the intentions are to eat them or hang them on the wall. They have been over fished in the past and used only for their fins, which is now illegal. Help protect the sharks by cutting the line and letting them go, the hook will eventually rot out and will not harm the shark if the line is cut.

Jerry Collinsburg has been Saltwater Fishing Florida for over 15 years. For more tips on how to catch sharks you can read his entry on his website. Florida Shark Fishing