On a day in early September, a light southwest breeze made it ideal conditions for offshore fly fishing. We reached our destination by 6:30 am, and within the hour the boat was surrounded by sharks. After warming up on some mid - sized blue sharks (250 lbs.), we were ready for some hotter action. That is when I spotted the dorsal fin of a cruising Mako curiously keeping his distance just out of casting range from my boat. After watching this leery fish for a few minutes, I decided to try and get his attention. I grabbed my hand gaff and began splashing it back and forth on the surface of the water, every so often tapping it on the lower unit of my auxiliary outboard engine. It worked. The fish turned and headed straight for us. A perfect cast just off the eye of the shark triggered an instant hit. The giant orange and yellow deceiver disappeared into the shark’s mouth and in just a few seconds we were a hundred yards into the backing. After about an hour of repeated runs and monster aerial show, the shark decided he had enough. We eased the tired fish next to the boat where I held him ever so carefully and removed the hook. He was very cooperative. We put the boat in gear and held this awesome fish along side until he began swimming again on his own. One big kick and he disappeared into the deep water. A great fight followed by a successful release. Just one of the many great days sharking off the coast of Cape Cod.

While any angler can get into a boat and head east, the successful angler will take several things into consideration before leaving the dock. Although each species of shark fights differently, choosing the right tackle is one of the most important ingredients to a great day of fishing.

I am a firm believer in keeping tackle as light as possible. This challenges the angler and gives the fish a fighting chance. The fly rod should be a two-handled rod with a large fighting butt. I use 11 - 15 weight rods depending upon the size of the fish in the area. I prefer a fast action fly rod, which will enable you to throw this heavy line and large fly quickly and accurately.

The reel should be able to hold at least 250-300 yards of backing and should have a large cork drag or compatible drag system. If the reel's drag system isn't up to par (if it’s dirty or of lower quality), there will be no chance of landing a good size fish. On several occasions, I have seen sharks tear off hundreds of yards of line in seconds. Many offshore anglers prefer anti-reverse reels, which can save you from bruised knuckles and fingers.

In order to effectively fish for sharks, you will need one rod set-up with an intermediate sinking line and one with a floating line. The leader will make or break your sharking trip. In order to land one of these fish you will need a wire leader at least 14 inches in length and at least 80 lb. test. I prefer braided wire rather than solid wire. It seems to hold up better to the constant pressure. Attach the braided wire to the fly with a figure eight knot, or if you choose, you can use small crimps. Since most sharks will roll during the fight, a shock tippet should be attached to the wire. Using an Albright knot, tie on 2.5 more feet of 80 lb. hard mono. This part of the leader will hold up much better as it rubs against the shark's sandpaper like skin. The remaining portion of the leader will be up to you. I generally use a 20 - 60 lb. tippet depending upon the size and type of sharks in the area. The fly should be tied onto at least a 6/0 hook; anything smaller will be bent by the shark’s strong mouth. Red, orange, or yellow colors tied into deceivers or chum patterns seem to work best with a generous amount of mylar or tinsel flash.

The most effective way to fish for sharks is by chumming. Chum with an oily, bloody base always works best. A five gallon bucket and lid works better than the conventional mesh bag which will often get torn apart by excited sharks. Drill half inch holes in the bucket to allow the chum to cycle into the water. Put a brick into the bucket to keep it below the water line. Many shark fishermen start chumming when they reach their fishing spot. The following small trick will help you to get into the sharks much faster. Slow down to about 8 knots 1/2 mile before you have reached your destination. Now begin chumming. When you arrive at the spot you wish to fish, you will now have a chum slick over a 1/2 mile long. Turn off your engines and all depth or fish finders as this may deter any leery sharks. Be prepared. The sharks may arrive in as little as a few minutes. When the sharks show up try not to get too excited too soon. Cast as close to the eyes of the sharks as possible. Their poor eyesight makes it very important for a close cast along side of a shark. A slow retrieve or a dead drift seems to work best. You can often get the sharks to chase a surface popper although their long noses will often push the fly preventing a solid strike. Pay very close attention to your line on the deck. Any knots or tangles will be a sure break off when the fish hits. After the strike, give a very solid hook set being sure you have driven the hook home and then hold on.

Always remember to use caution when handling these sharks. Although they may seem exhausted and docile after a fight, they are still unpredictable and dangerous fish. These small tips have evolved from dozens of shark charters on my boat. Using some of these simple hints will ensure an exciting and successful sharking trip.