|
Key West is recognized around the
world as a tourist Mecca for water sports such as
diving, snorkeling, sailing, and parasailing. Hard to
imagine that with all of that going on Key West has also
made it to the top ten list of the world’s most shark
infested waters. The Florida Keys have more species of
sharks than one can imagine and the long list of
notoriously famous critters is gaining popularity in the
recreational sport fishing arena. Increasingly, both
inshore and offshore anglers have set their sights on
sharks of all species and sizes. Using light tackle and
fly gear, anglers all over the Keys have leveled the
playing field and are now pursuing sharks as top fish.
Shark Fishing Key West
Starting in Homestead, the Florida Keys meander their
way down to Key West and out to the Dry Tortugas.
Quickly glancing at a chart or map, the string of small
islands resembles a tail swinging odd the South Florida
coast line. Located between the Gulf of Mexico and the
Atlantic Ocean, the Florida Keys offer an abundance of
fishing opportunities. To the south and southeast is the
Atlantic side, claiming fame for having the only living
coral reef in North America. Also on the Atlantic side
you’ll find a never ending northward flowing river
called the Gulf Stream. To the north and northwest of
the Florida Keys is the Gulf of Mexico. We call the
inshore waters of the Gulf of Mexico the backcountry,
home to gin clear shallow water that covers the famous
flats of the Florida Keys. Further yet to eh north is
Florida Bay. Florida Bay is the resting place of many
wrecks and houses a multitude of natural hiding places
for numerous species of baitfish and the many predators
that eat them. The Florida Keys all boil down to one of
the best places in the world to pursue numerous species
of sharks on 12 lb. to 20 lb. tackle.
Sharks in general are hungry, seemingly always on the
hunt. Rarely will an angler find a shark that will turn
down a free meal. Sharks have terrible eyesight but a
great sniffer and extremely sensitive sensors that allow
them to hone in on wounded prey. With the nature of the
beast being what it is, sharks make a perfect target for
light tackle and fly fishing enthusiasts. Regardless of
your weapon of choice, there are enough sharks in the
Keys to make an entire fishing vacation out of this one
fish alone.
Black tips and spinner sharks head the list as two of
the most enjoyable to pursue. Both offer anglers a
challenging fight and are visually thrilling as they so
eloquently leap into the air. Found in the inshore
channels, on the flats and inhabiting wrecks, these
sharks are easily enticed and eager eaters.
Hammerheads are one of the most famous sharks due partly
to the unique shape of their heads and pertly to their
unbelievable stamina. Because of their lack of numbers,
only a few anglers have been specially seeking
hammerheads on light tackle. This intimidating shark
ranges in size from 5 – 15 feet and most of the year can
be found hovering over wrecks and structure in deep
water. As the spring season approaches, hammerheads can
sometimes be seen on shallow water flats chasing their
favorite snack, tarpon. Hammerhead sharks respond well
to all sorts of chum and will eat almost anything. A
number of Key West fishing guides have even been
challenging hammerheads on fly with astonishing results.
Bulls are probably the most common shark targeted in the
Keys. A tough match for any light tackle angler, bull
sharks can be found up and down the entire island chain.
Regardless of depth or type of structure, commanding
bull sharks leisurely cruise around with the attitude
that they own the place. Ranging in size from 3 – 13
feet, they usually scarf up anything that falls in their
path. Fishing for bull sharks on the flats requires
strong arms and a bit heavier tackle. Just like their
namesake, bull sharks fight like hell. Chumming with a
scored barracuda offers the best results. These sharks
will eat anything that requires little effort to catch
including slow moving plugs, flies, and chunks of bait.
Lemon sharks also frequent the Keys but are mainly
targeted on the shallow water flats. Ranging in size
from 3 – 7 feet, these sharks are noted for their
blistering runs and eagerness to eat. Lemon sharks
respond well to chum and will also consume a variety of
plugs, flies, and bait.
Bonnet head sharks, though not very big in size, are
still worth mentioning. Shaped somewhat like their
bigger cousin, the hammerhead shark, bonnet heads only
range in length from 2 – 5 feet. Bonnet heads stalk the
shallows in search of easy offerings. Light tackle
anglers will have great opportunities with these
relatively easy targets. Entices with crabs or shrimp,
bonnet heads are common on productive Bonefishing flats
and can make a slow day of chasing the gray ghost a bit
more entertaining.
Tackle selection when shark fishing in the Keys is open
to personal preference. Whether the angler wishes to use
spinning tackle, conventional gear or fly rods, the
choice is simply up to them. Here are some things to
keep in mind. Whatever platform of equipment you choose
it’s a good idea to make sure that your reels have
plenty of line or backing. Some species of sharks can
peel off a 100 yards of line in the blink of an eye and
then put up a pit bull like tug of war. Rods should
offer good shock resistance for the occasional air show
and head shake with substantial stiffness for safety
during boat side handling. Fly rods shouldn’t be any
smaller than 10 weight in size.
Sharks are all about teeth! A short trace of wire is the
first link in keeping your fish from slicing its way to
freedom. Wire comes in all forms, shapes and line
strengths. On the flats, use as light a wire as possible
for low visibility and good abrasion resistance. On the
fly, the angler will want to use a very flexible wire
that will not inhibit the motion of the fly during
presentation or make casting awkward. Monofilament or
fluorocarbon leader material should be used between the
wire and the running line from the reel. The strength of
the leader material is dependent on the size of your
intended game. Sharks are covered with coarse
sandpaper-like skin so the length of the leader should
at least exceed the length of the shark. Their powerful
tails can make easy work of our light lines and
unfortunately sharks like to roll. A stealthy
fluorocarbon leader will also be helpful in the
Caribbean like crystal clear waters and offers better
abrasion resistance then mono.
Assembling a leader system can be done in many different
ways. Some anglers use two barrel swivels; one connected
the leader to the main line and one connecting the
leader to the wire trace. New to the market are soft
steel and titanium wire leaders that can actually be
tied in knots, thus eliminating the swivels and
increasing the invisibility factor. Be creative and
remember to take mental notes on what works so you may
implement it again.
Hooks used in shark fishing should be extra strong with
thick shanks to hold up against the extreme pressure.
Hooks should also be extra sharp to penetrate the
shark’s thick skin. Out of the box is not sharp enough.
When using artificial plugs, and poppers, replace the
treble hooks with single hooks of comparable size. The
size of the hook is again personal preference and should
correspond with the size of sharks being pursued and the
type of bait being used.
Chumming a flat provides thrilling results. It is the
easiest way to light tackle fish for sharks and great
for the novice angler who may not have the patience to
poll around all day. The best results will be found on a
flat that has at least 2 feet of running water flowing
across it. The strong flow of water will carry the scent
for miles. One sniff and the shark’s acute sense will
hone in on the source. Barracudas, bonito, and dolphin
carcasses make great chum for all species of sharks.
Chasing big sharks o the flats and in the backcountry
out of small shallow skiffs is a world of fun! Shallow
drafted skiffs offer a great advantage as most of the
sharks mentioned will spend large portions of their day
in the shallows seeking out prey. When on a flat,
wearing a pair of polarized sunglasses is critical in
observing approaching targets. When you do spot and
incoming shark, casting a surface popper or floating
plug is an extremely exciting way to attract his
attention. To entice the fish to eat the artificial,
make a lot of noise with it and keep the retrieve a bit
on the slow side. Casting across and well in front of
the shark allows time for his senses to zero in on the
sound. Pop the plug vigorously until the shark reacts.
Then impale a slight fleeing action in the bait as the
hunter approaches and hopefully attacks the plug.
Casting live bait toward and incoming shark is another
heart stopping way to connect. Use a pinfish or
something similar and cast the bait in the shark’s path
or travel. Predatory instincts will take care of the
rest.
Fly fishing for sharks on the flats is another great
thrill. Here the angler has certainly given the shark
the advantage. Shark fishing with a fly rod is a medium
level challenge to the fly fisherman in casting
distance, accuracy and presentation. Actually landing
one of these toothy critters on fly is an accomplishment
that will boost the confidence of any aspiring big game
fly angler. A few techniques, flies and gear secrets
that may be helpful include the following. Flies of
choice should be thick with large silhouettes and move
lots of water. Large poppers are an excellent choice.
Casting large shark flies can be slightly awkward but
made a little easier with what I call the “one up”
program. Load your 11 weight rod with 12 weight line to
help better load the rod for the heavier fly.
Presentations should be placed in front of the shark’s
path. Remember, even sharks don’t like surprises
creeping up from behind them. Keep flies in front of or
to the side of their nose, stripping steadily till a
strike is encouraged. Once the fish strikes strip back
hard and sting him with the hook without lifting the
rod. If the strip strike was done correctly, the shark
will take off like a rocket. Now is a good time to clear
the rest of your line and let him take drag. When hooked
up with a shark on the flats be sure to hold your rod
tip as high as possible to keep your line clear of
obstructions. Don’t try and force the fish to the boat.
You are definitely in for the long haul as the fish
don’t know when to quit.
Practice catch and release when fishing for sharks. Here
are some tips that may help the shark quickly revive
from the experience and help you keep all your fingers
and toes. For starters, shark skin is extremely abrasive
so wear gloves. Sharks obviously have sharp teeth and
they won’t think twice about biting you. At boat side,
never take your eyes off of the shark’s head. If you
know where his head is you know where his teeth are.
Don’t grab the shark by its tail. Doing so can result in
a bite to the arm. Most of all, never underestimate the
power of a shark. Most sharks never stop swimming.
Imagine how strong you would be if you never stopped
moving. The best thing to do once a shark is at the boat
side is to cut the leader as close to the hook as
possible. Another alternative is the Boca Grip. Run the
grip down the line to the hook shank and pull. This
little move will often completely free the hook. On fly,
all the same rules apply. Careful the fish doesn’t exert
a last blast of energy and wrap your fly rod around the
bottom of the boat. As a rule, when handling any size
shark at boat side, photos should only be taken by an
observer, not someone trying to release a fish. Main
focus here is to release the fish unharmed and not get
hurt.
I hope you too can appreciate shark fishing on the flats
and in the backcountry as another great way to enjoy a
day of fishing her in the fabulous Florida Keys. Well,
we’ve covered a lot of ground while touching on various
shark species and their natures. Ensure our future with
ea positive impact on the resource by using good catch
and release techniques. Take this information and add it
to your own recipe for shark success. |
