If you’re looking to catch leopard sharks, then you’ve come to the right place! This guide on leopard shark fishing will walk you through the process of both finding and reeling in these hard-to-catch fish.
Take note of these handy tips, and make sure that your next fishing expedition is successful!
Top Leopard Shark Fishing Tricks
Here are some of the things you need to keep in mind:
Choosing a Spot
Finding a good spot to try your luck at catching leopard sharks is essential. The first step is finding a good spot and when you do, remember that sharks move around so it’s always a good idea to check with locals and ask about current sightings and find out if there are any restrictions in place or problems with trash or sewage.
You’ll also want to make sure that you’ll have access to freshwater for cleaning and frying your catch, which means getting there during high tide is usually best. If you’re going to be doing some night fishing, look for rocky areas that offer shelter from waves.
This can help keep you safe while allowing you to see more easily once it gets dark. Leopard sharks tend to feed late at night or early in the morning so take advantage of these feeding times by heading out then too!
If all else fails, just head towards an area where other fishermen are catching fish. You’ll likely be able to find some hungry leopard sharks nearby.
What Bait to Use
Leopard sharks are big sharks, so big baits should be used. Because they eat a variety of foods, they won’t be too picky with their choice of bait.
However, bigger is better when it comes to leopard shark fishing and live baits are usually best. You don’t need an expensive rod or reel either; just bring along your old surf rod and some line and tie off your bait using a basic loop knot like Albright or an improved clinch knot.
To keep track of your line while fighting large fish like leopard sharks, make sure to put a few extra wraps around your reel handle so that it doesn’t come loose while fighting a big fish. Also, make sure to bring plenty of gloves because these sharks have sharp teeth.
Getting Your Rigs Ready
Like most offshore fishing, leopard shark fishing starts with getting your rigs ready. This is no small task because a rig isn’t just one thing.
One person might rig their line with live bait or even strips of squid and prawns for trolling, while another might throw out a bunch of squid strips for bottom-fishing.
That being said, each rig is a series of baits tied together and threaded onto the mainline. This mainline should be tied directly to your spinning reel, meaning that as you haul in your lines, you have one less step between you and landing a big catch. Before you start tying, check your equipment.
Where and When to Set Your Rigs
The first step is finding a location where there are large schools of baitfish. These locations include piers and jetties, as well as off-shore locations where you’ll see these sharks around shipwrecks, steep drop-offs, and even near large schools of blackbelly rosefish.
The best time to catch leopard shark is in early summer when they are moving inshore to spawn. The most effective method for catching these fish is chumming; once a school has been located, throw out some bait at it and then sit back while your pontoon boat gets surrounded by sharks attracted by an easy meal.
If using live bait, keep plenty of them on hand so that you can keep replenishing your hooks as they get taken off by hungry sharks. If using cut bait, make sure to prepare plenty of pieces so that each one lasts long enough for a shark to take a bite before needing replacement.
Once hooked, it will be difficult to get them into your fishing boat if they’re still thrashing about; remember that these fish have very powerful jaws and sharp teeth so use caution when handling them.
Can You Eat Leopard Sharks?
You may have heard that you can eat leopard sharks. However, if you’ve ever tasted them, you may find yourself wondering why there are any left in our oceans.
Don’t worry – we’re not going to tell you anything gross about how they taste. We’re just going to go over a few simple tips on how to catch them and what kinds of things they eat themselves. First off, it’s worth noting that they don’t actually eat humans, so no need to be afraid.
Once caught, most sharks are quite docile and pose little threat to humans as long as they aren’t provoked. So are leopard sharks good to eat? As for eating them, that depends on who you ask.
Some people say the shark meat tastes like chicken; others say it tastes like fishy cardboard with a hint of liver; still others say they wouldn’t touch one with a ten-foot pole!
Just remember that like all fish, leopard sharks contain mercury which could cause serious health problems if consumed regularly or in large quantities.
How to Cook Leopard Shark
You could cook your leopard shark any number of ways – on a grill, seared, or even in a frying pan.
However you do it, keep an eye out for pin bones. They’re not as common in sharks as they are in other fish like trout and salmon, but if you catch a large leopard shark that does have them be careful when fileting.
Pin bones are thin and extremely sharp so look closely when doing it yourself and handle them with care. Once cooked, there isn’t really much else you can do with a shark but enjoy the delicacy.
Conclusion
Leopard sharks are unique creatures with some interesting habits. However, they can also be dangerous if they feel threatened.
So, before setting out for your leopard shark fishing expedition, make sure you’re protected and prepared.
If you follow these tips and guidelines, however, you should be able to easily capture one of these fascinating animals in no time at all.
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