For fishermen interested in the thrill catching a huge shark, Capt. Chip Michalove of Outcast Fishing in Hilton Head has become an expert at catching these infrequently targeted fish.
Michalove, who holds state records for blacktip and lemon sharks, boasts that the Beaufort/Hilton Head area has the finest fishery in the east for Tiger sharks. Anglers can target and expect to catch seriously large tigers within 20 minutes of the dock and still within sight of land. Holes and structure in Port Royal and Calibogue sounds and off Hilton Head Island are hot spots for summer shark action.
Area waters also hold spinner, bull, hammerhead and other sharks.
Michalove fishes from a 26-foot catamaran with stand-up tackle, fighting belts, stout 7-foot rods with rollers all the way up to the tip and Shimano Tiagra reels loaded with 200-pound braided line. His specific techniques and spots are closely guarded.
Almost all the sharks Michalove’s parties catch area released alive, because sharks are very susceptible to overkill, and large sharks are not good to eat. As long-lived, prime predators, they accumulate lots of mercury in their flesh, and a photo is a much better way to remember a huge shark than killing it to keep the skeleton of its jaw.
Be the first to comment