shark rigs

[dan]

next year probably july i am goin to try grttin out shark fishin.
which of the followin would be recomended
hook size
weight
depth
bait
bait size
strength of rod
strength of line
strength of wire trace.
thanks

[Neil]

I made up my own rigs for a recent sharking trip out of Downings. The general consensus was to use 10/0 O'Shaughesy's. I use circles myself, usually 10/0 VMC 3X circles, but because of the smaller gape, I went bigger - around 12/0 (though I was using Mustad Tuna Circles which are described as 18/0). I then crimped the hook to either Shimano stainless bike gear cable, or 275 lb 49 strand American Fishing Wire (this is really good stuff) - around three feet. Then went on a solid ring ball-bearing swivel at around 300lbs BS, followed by about 12 ft of 200lb mono, ending in a 100lb-ish crane swivel. You can use a oval split link or similar at the wire/mono interface to allow you to attach a small weight to get the bait down out of gulls reach. Use a proper cup-to-cup crimper and double-barrelled crimps. Shrink tubing on the wire ends as they exit the crimp can save painful fingers too.

Basic techniques are here: http://www.leadertec.com/tipsandtechniq ... iques.html

Many people put an overhand knot in the wire at the hook and swivel before crimping: you can do this with 49-strand, but not with bike brake or gear cable. According to the above, it's not necessary with a proper crimper and good crimps.

I've tested mine with my body weight - the coat hook was going to come off the wall before the crimps gave way. This is certainly not the case with plastic covered wire.

p.s. I never did get a shark on that trip, so my traces are still 'virgin'.

[dan]

cheers.....

i hope to get blue shark fishing around the mouth of strangford lough next year.
you never an odd porgy may even make an appearance.