[Hammy4260]

The Fiance' and I had a blast catching everything that swims last year down on the Eastern Shore of Virginia this past summer. We plan to go again this year, but she really wants to catch a shark. We saw several big ones last year, but only managed rays.

Can anyone offer advice on catching sharks down near Kiptopeke? General Locations (not looking for anyones GPS), baits, rigs, tides, etc? The only thing is we would have to say inshore of the bridge, generally close to land because we don't have a big boat. She is kinda fearful of the ocean anyway.

We don't care what kind of sharks, just bigger than the 16inch dogfish we catch in Ocean City. Last year we fished near the Fisherman's Island bridge and like I said, we saw some sharks, but we are just looking for more of a sure thing (not that there is ever such a thing in fishing). Thanks for the help folks.

Matt in Salisbury

 

[rgminer]

Fish in the morning before noon, or evening starting a couple hours before sunset. Anchor your boat in 20 feet or so water (around the concrete ships at Kiptopeake isn't a bad place)

For bait get yourself some chum or a chum log. We make ours out of ground up fish carcasses and dried fish flavored cat food, and we use fish heads or whole small fish like spot on the hook.

Rig your line like you were fishing for black drum. A weight large enough to hold the bottom in the current and a fish finder rig with a steel leader 6-10 feet long and a circle hook usually 6/0-8/0 or larger depending on the bait size. drop it to the bottom and ladle your chum every 15 minutes.

Also many sharks swim in the middle of the water column, so try another rod about half way to the bottom. Instead of a weight, attach an inflated balloon about 10 feet or so above the hook with a live spot. Be sure to remember to chum

You are going to catch rays, there isn't a way around it. Just be patient. The sharks will finds their way to you.

 

[Salmo trutta]

I've seen a video made by some hardcore fly fishing foke in that area. I think they are fishing closer to the barrier islands out of Oyster somewhere. I actually got to talk to the guys who made the video as it looked like a blast. They basically ladel chum and have a chum bag in the water to attrack the sharks. Before too long they are litterally surrounded by sand tigers, spinners, black tips, you name it and they sight cast with large red flies to the sharks with heavy fly rods, wire leader and shock leader. Hook ups are common when you can get the sharks near the boat and aggresive from the chum.

 

[rgminer]

I can tell you in June and July you can go to the deep holes in the creeks near Chincoteague and catch sharks up to a few hundred pounds as they come in to spawn. Their spawning in-turn attracts bull sharks that will feed on the young. Last year in July I caught and released several duskies, sand bars and black tips in Cockle Creek. The water is deep and swift and my chum traveled a long way to drawl them in. While waiting I used light tackle to catch a cooler of nice croakers (used a few smallish ones for bait for sharks too)