Shark fishing is a popular recreational activity in Australia and if you're new to chasing them it might be helpful to go over our shark fishing safety species guide. Anglers must remember that sharks are dangerous predators and that fishing for sharks comes with a certain amount of risk. Anglers who target sharks must do their part to minimise the risk to themselves, other waterway users and to the sharks themselves.
Firstly, it's very important to only fish for sharks away from swimmers and other waterway users. Fishing for sharks near where people enter the water for any reason can put others at risk. It's also important to keep fish waste and food scraps out of the water where people swim. Dispose of your scraps and rubbish in a bin on land at the end of your session and never berley in areas where people swim. Sharks can be caught effectively with the correct rig and baits without berley and it's unnecessary to berley in areas where people swim as it can attract a larger number of sharks which can be very dangerous for other waterway users.
It's crucial to know how to handle sharks correctly. Following correct handling techniques to release sharks safely will reduce the chance of injury and assists shark survival post-catch. If you catch a shark larger than 1.5 metres, set it free by cutting off the trace/line. If you catch a shark smaller than 1.5 metres, handle it with a wet towel and where possible keep your hands, feet and body well clear of the shark's mouth. Anglers and bystanders should always stand well behind the animal's pectoral fins, and where possible behind the tail fin. Restrain the animal with one hand on top and behind the first dorsal fin, with the other hand on top and behind the second dorsal fin. Keeping your hands behind the dorsal fins will stop the hands from sliding forward towards the shark's mouth when it thrashes. Be gentle and do not squash the shark's internal organs and return the animal to the water as soon as possible. Avoid removing hooks unless preparations have been made in advance. Never remove hooks by hand, always use bolt cutters to remove the barb from the hook, and use pliers or other hook-removing devices to remove the hook. Finally be sure to use rapidly degrading hooks when shark fishing.
4 X Adjustable Snapper & Gummy Shark Sliding Rigs With 4/0 & 6/0 Circle Hook Fishing Tackle
$9.90
What's up for grabs? 4 X Adjustable Snapper & Gummy Shark Sliding Rigs With 4/0 & 6/0 Circle Hook Fishing Tackle Features include: Adjustable Snapper & Gummy Shark Sliding Rigs 1 x Octopus Circle Hook Size 4/0 (Slider) 1… read more