Shark fishing, lowcountry style

Capt. Rob Bennett loves fishing for blacktip sharks behind shrimp boats during the summer.

Shrimp boats are key to catching the big ones

Everybody loves to hear that shrimp season is open to commercial shrimpers off of South Carolina’s coast.

That’s especially true for anyone who sets foot onboard Capt. Rob Bennett’s boat. Bennett said during commercial shrimp season, the shark fishing is so hot that many anglers have no desire to fish for anything else.

“It’s like shark alley out there. And this isn’t anchoring down, tossing out big baits on the bottom, and then sitting around waiting for a shark to show up. This is fast action. And for someone looking for an exciting fight on rod and reel, this is as exciting as it gets,” he said. Bennett operates LowCountry Inshore Charters (843-367-3777).

The best action is behind shrimp boats. The sharks, like many other creatures, follow the shrimp boats. They know that an easy meal will soon come their way. By-catches that are tossed overboard by shrimpers, or sea life that gets naturally tumbled around and stunned by the shrimp nets dragging by quickly become shark snacks.

Almost any bait will do

“I pull up behind the shrimp boats, load a hook up with cut bait or shrimp – it doesn’t really matter as long as there is something on the hook – and I have my anglers toss it into the wash behind the nets. I only use one rod at a time. It gets too crazy if you hook more than one at a time,” Bennett said.

“These sharks will sometimes come up and check out the bait, swimming on the right side of it, then the left side of it. It’s exciting to see. And when they hit the bait, it can sound like an explosion on the water,” he said.

And that’s when the fun really begins. The drag of the reel zings as the shark makes a run. And the angler holding the rod gets a charge that only a shark can give.

Depending on the size of the shark, Bennett may coach his angler while the boat sits in idle. Or he may put the boat in gear to follow the shark. Once he gets within 30 feet or so of the shark, he lets the angler and shark battle it out.

Blacktips are common, but not the only shark Bennett catches

“We catch some really big blacktip sharks this way. Some I’m sure are approaching the state record, but you can’t get a shark that size in the boat without gaffing and killing him. And we won’t do that unless the person is going to eat it,” said Bennett. He uses a long de-hooking tool to release the sharks once they are worn down and reeled to the side of the boat.

“We’ll catch other species too. Everything from bull sharks to hammerheads,” said Bennett.

While kids who haven’t spent much time fishing for big fish are always excited about hooking into a shark, Bennett said even seasoned anglers get a thrill out of this. Accidentally catching a shark while fishing for other species isn’t uncommon, but it’s a different feeling to target them in this way. To watch them approach the bait, and then to feel their raw power as they chomp down and fight is an awesome feeling.

Click here for a tasty shark recipe.

About Brian Cope 2726 Articles
Brian Cope is the editor of Carolina Sportsman. He has won numerous awards for his writing, photography, and videography. He is a retired Air Force combat communications technician, and has a B.A. in English Literature from the University of South Carolina. You can reach him at brianc@sportsmannetwork.com.