(help) bull sharks

[Bronson]

hey guys

I have tryed shark fishing land bassed a few times and have had no success. i was wondering were would be a good place to fish for them i have a 3.7m tinnie and would be game to go out in it and try and catch one is my boat to small or will it be ok. Could anyone help us a bit like if burly is needed and if so what sort of burly and do you fish with a float for bullies or on the bottom and what is the best bait.

As you can see i haven't got much experience with shark fishing just thought id try something different.

bron

[jrf1973]

Bronson - where are you based ?

I'm no expert - but in a river a 3.7m is plenty. Plenty of tuna oil and a live (anything) or slab of mullet in the logan river will see you hooked into one. Some of the threads here make it sound like you will have success every time - but I don't seem to. Like all fishing - just persist with the right theory and you'll fight something eventually.

Good luck.

[Nico.d.R]

i have found a good way to catch bullies is to drift and have a live or dead mullet on a un wieghted hook out behind the boat seems to work for me in the creeks on the smaller ones .

[Nico.d.R]

this was caught on a dead 10cm mullet .
Attachment 20269
and this 1 my son got on a dead herring .
Attachment 20268
good luck and let us know how you go .

[Mexikan]

I know its prob a bit far for you but they get bull sharks in the caboolture river at Beachmere where the river comes close to the road.A dead mullet bait is good with a unweighted rig and a long leader/trace(2m).I've seen a bloke get cut off there when the shark came around and bit the main line even with a long trace.
Mex

[Bronson]

Thanks to all that comented me back i was thinking of giving the coomera river a try is this an alright spot to try and if so should i use a float or should i just have my mullet on the bottom


bron

[Nico.d.R]

if you anchor up use the smallest sinker you can , or if the flow is pretty slow or if you are drifting use no sinker .

[Local_Guy]

if you can't get mullet, try a whole pilchard on a single 5/0 hook passed through the eye and then out 1/2 way down the back so the hook sits out and the bait is straight.

works for our sharks up here in the creeks. and with the smell of the pilchard, doesn't usually take long.

[Braddles]

Hey Bron;

Few mates live on the canals of Broadbeach waters (eg Monarco St Bridge area) and regularly catch bull sharks. Common by catch is also sting rays. Better off to let your bait move around the water column naturally, but obviously this wont be successful if the current is roaring through and your bait is planing. Pick a time when the run is not too bad. The bait should move around and attract interest anywhere from bottom to near surface. Most of these canals and creeks are under 6m anyway so smell will draw a shark.

I wouldnt advise using lead to put it on the bottom - then you get constant annoyance by crabs, sting rays, shovel nose rays etc....

I personally use a 10-14kg boat road with 30lb line, and a 80lb mono trace with a 50cm wire trace for last section on 4/0 to 6/0 gangs depending on size of bait.

We soak our bait o/night in tuna oil.... I am sure this perhaps looses inpact greatly within a short time of soaking - but still maximises your chance.

Shark fishing isnt like chasing bream etc - in that you may cleanup tonight with 3 over 100cm and then same spot for 5 times and get nothing.

As for your boat - it is suitale size for creeks and canals, but I would strongly urge you to see one of these in action, hauled up on the beach / bank where you can appreciate how varocious and strong even a relatively small specimen is once hooked. I have been catching sharks for sport for years now, and there is NO WAY I would want a live shark of any species in a boat that small alive...

Last thing is - hold onto your rod (ie dont leave it in a length of pvc on the bank or proped against your tackle box - they generally take off with steady but amazing force.

Hope I have helped a bit,

Brad.

[Nico.d.R]

brad i have to agree on there strength and visiuosness , i have caught lots of bronze whalers over the years and the bull shark is a lot more aggresive (like a pike eel) i nearly had one that my son caught at baffle latch onto my hand after it shook free of my grip so i threw it back in the water . If you get one drop it to the floor and hold it down (steve erwin style) , if you are going to eat it cut off its head and tail straight and that will stop the amonia going threw the meat . I have a little you'll'be (a handle of a pool que) and give them a couple off good wacks on top of there head to settle them down . Dont hold it by the tail as they can reech back and bite there tail or your hand .

good luck Nico .

[timmy79]

Thanks to all that comented me back i was thinking of giving the coomera river a try is this an alright spot to try and if so should i use a float or should i just have my mullet on the bottom


bron

Mate we have been catching heaps of bullies lately in the coomera, so many infact it is becoming annoying.

We have been using live and dead mullet's on the bottom and have not even bothered with any burley and the little buggers just keep jumping on.

[BaitThrower]

Well yesterday on the Logan River I saw about a 1 metre bull shark breach about 1 metre into the air!

I'm assuming it was trying to grab a fish near the surface, but it was an interesting sight nonetheless. So obviously a few in the Logan River too at present.

[Bronson]

yea guys just letting you know whent out to the coomera river tonight with not even 1 little nibble just thought id throw it out there i was useing pilchards and catfish for bait and nothing even had a sniff. was i doing something wrong or what.


bron

[brake]

Bron..
Bait i use for Bull Sharks is a whole squid soaked in tuna oil overnight,no float,berlying is the way to go , get a can of cat food with a pilchard mix,soak a rag in tuna oil put it all in the berley cage, make sure you use a wire trace , i have caught a few from canals around Robina , all land based biggest so far 1.2 meters

[AussieBrad]

their natural food in the bris river is those forktail catfish...

so theres ya bait!

works everytime for me