Fishing In the Dark ~ Scary but Productive

Fishing in the dark on some lonely beach on a hot summer’s night for shark is very effective.

When the sun goes to bed sharks feel much secure coming close to the shore to hunt for food. This is the best time to grab your surf gear and head to the beach for some real action!

Night surf fishing on the beach is so much relaxing than on the day. There are no sun-bathers and swimmers to distract or disturb your fishing – only a sky full of stars to accompany you.

Job for 2

Fishing in the dark alone on a lonely beach at night is not advisable – especially shark is your targeted species. You will need extra hands to land the fish. It is no joke alone with a thrashing and well-known man-eater right in front of you. I would advise you to get hold of at least one more fishing buddy to go along. He or she will also able to help you with the carrying of fishing equipment, bait and other stuffs to and back to your favorite beach.

Furthermore, surf fishing for sharks is often a waiting game. But sometimes it can be otherwise. It happens before with me and my buddies – action begins with the very first cast!

When to Fish

The perfect time to fish in the dark for sharks is during the incoming flood tide. The most actions are usually 2-3 hrs on either side. It is also advisable to hit to the beach before it is completely too dark to see so that you can still able to see the layout of the surf and know where the gutters really are.

Tackle and other Fishing Accessories

10-12 feet long fast taper action rods are ideal for this situation -- combined with a large spinning or bait-casting reel spooled with 30-50 lbs test braid line or even heavier.

Wire leader is a must to prevent bite-offs. A meter long of about 100-150 lbs test is sufficient to tangle with this sharp-toothy predator.

High-quality Octopus hooks of size ranging from 5/0-10/0 are preferred attached with a quality ball-bearing swivel to the end of the trace.

The types and weights of sinkers much depend on the surf conditions.

The fish-finder rig which consists of a sinker and a free-moving baited hook is my favorite rig.

For fishing in the dark a glow stick to attach to your rod-tip for detecting bites in the dark is also very helpful. And when incorporated into your shark’s rig you will be able to see exactly where your bait landed and at the same time acts as a fish attractant.

Sand spikes, a torch, headlamp and a fixed gaff are some of the things needed for night fishing on the surf.

Bait

Oily fish-fillets such as mackerel, tuna and herring are favorite baits for sharks.

Fishing in the dark can be very productive -- at times it can be very scary with all the hungry man-eaters coming so close to the shore at night. Wade in the water at your own risk when the sun goes down!

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