I’ve written many stories about big battles with big sharks, but there are sharks made just for kids, too.
Wide-eyed kids head to sea on boats, piers or from the beach on their earliest fishing adventures, sometimes just old enough to turn the handle on the reel, as long as a grown-up is holding up the rod and assisting as required.
This salty charter captain long ago learned that kids have a blast pulling on sharks their own size, and when the shark comes to the surface, the kids’ eyes are as big as saucers.
When relatives or friends with kids, from inland states or counties, come to visit some of my regular charter clients, we often take them out and specifically look for small sharks to catch.
Can you imagine how a kid from Nebraska becomes the hero of his or her school once back home talking about shark fishing in Santa Barbara? They excitedly tell stories about catching several sharks, and feel great about being the center of attention.
Kid-size shark species include smoothound, pinback, shovelnose (guitarfish), leopard, and sand shark. These sharks can be found and caught in shallow water and without having to travel hours to get to the best spots.
When targeting sharks for kids, a good plan is to head out of harbor and fish nearshore kelp beds and reef zones. These species spend much of their time in shallow water, less than 80 feet deep, and tend to forage along the edge of structure such as kelp beds and reefs.
A good plan is to drift or anchor just outside of a kelp bed, and fish the bottom. If bites don’t come within about 20 minutes, move on to the next spot. Shallow reef areas are likely places to find sharks, and they tend to forage over sand spots right adjacent to a reef.
These species of sharks are attracted to a variety of baits, since they are primarily scavengers. Good options include squid strips, anchovies, sardines and shrimp. It is best to rig simply with a dropper loop or sliding sinker rig.
Small sharks are great fun. They tend to hang out in schools, and when one is hooked, you can usually count on more in the vicinity. Most of these sharks have white tender flaky meat, which is decent table fare when prepared well.
It is best to clean the shark at sea, then take it home and soak it in hot tap water for about 10 minutes. After a soaking in hot water, the skin will come off easily
— Capt. David Bacon operates WaveWalker Charters and is president of SOFTIN Inc., a nonprofit organization providing seafaring opportunities for those in need. Visit softininc.blogspot.com to learn more about the organization and how you can help. Click here to read previous columns. The opinions expressed are his own.
