About Shark Fishing Rigs

Types

• The types of shark fishing rigs are as varied as the types of sharks themselves, but there are some that are more popular than others. A simple steel leader, with a hook attached directly to the leader, is one of the easiest to set up and one of the most popular rigs. A large spoon and lure combo attached to a steel leader is also a popular choice. Some fishermen prefer to tie a steel leader directly to nylon fishing line, rather than using a swivel, while others prefer to use metal fishing line in the first place.

Considerations

• When choosing a shark fishing rig, important considerations are the species and size of shark you are targeting, weather conditions, time of day and the shark's feeding habits. During the middle of a hot summer day, for example, a rig suitable for fishing deep in the water with live or bloodied bait would be ideal, since you will need to both go to where the shark is and entice it to bite. On a mild evening near sunset, when most sharks come into the shallows searching for smaller fish, a lure and spoon setup would work well. The size and type of sharks you hope to catch should all be considerations when choosing the length of steel lead, the size of the lure and sinker and the strength of the fishing line in setting up your rig.

Size

• Just as sharks come in all sizes and shapes, the size of a shark fishing rig can vary from a few inches to a foot or more. In general, the size of the rig chosen should be based on the size of shark targeted. However, for sharks with "deep bites," or that swallow bait deep, a longer lead and larger rig would be suitable.

Features

• One of the main features of a shark fishing rig, as opposed to other fishing rigs, is the strength and length needed to prevent the shark from breaking the line. Part of the design of a shark rig should be to avoid teeth ever reaching any parts of the fishing line that could be cut. Another part of the design is to keep the shark from swallowing the lure or bait too deep. A hook set in the mouth of a shark is ideal. A hook close to the lips is likely to come out before the shark is landed and a hook set too deep can make it more difficult to reel the shark in. Features such as large spoons, extra long leaders and oversized lures help address these issues.

Warning

• When selecting a shark fishing rig, think about how, or if, you will remove it after catching a shark. While it is tempting to choose a rig that won't allow for any chance of the shark's escape, the benefit quickly becomes a problem once the shark is landed. You may very well have to simply cut the line and lose the rig.