The Hook-Up I Never Saw Coming: A Great Surprise
It was a beautiful morning in April, and I headed out for a late-morning session to fish a rising tide. The spot was new to me, but right away I liked what I saw. The surf was mellow, the current was easy to manage, and the seaweed was light to medium at most. In other words, conditions were solid, so I set up and went straight to sharking.
Soaking Bait and Testing the Bite
While my bait soaked, I decided to test the light tackle bite. It was slow. I tried sand crabs… nothing. Switched to mussel meat… nothing. I looked back toward my rod and noticed the classic passerby standing there, pointing, and trying to tell me I had a fish on.
The thing is, the current often makes it look like there’s action on the rod. To the untrained eye it’s easy to mistake, and this was one of those times. As he walked off, I switched my mussel chunk back to a sand crab while keeping an eye on my rod.
That’s when my rod tipped once, then doubled over, and line started peeling off the reel!
The Run
I sprinted over, grabbed the rod, and right away it felt like a solid run. After about five seconds, I was thinking soupfin. That would have made sense with the water sitting in the 61–63 degree range and it being late spring. Truthfully though, it had been a while since my last shark run, so my guessing game was a little rusty.
I tightened the drag just slightly, leaned back, and let the circle hook do its job.
The Breach
The fish was still taking out a lot of line, but not in a way that seemed unmanageable. It felt powerful, steady, and definitely shark-like. When it slowed, I leaned back to try to turn its head, but there was no give. Then it took off again.
That’s when I saw it.
It came two-thirds out of the water – big, gray, and unmistakable. A great white. And not a small one. In the moment, my brain kept repeating the same thing over and over: it’s big, really big. I’d estimate eight to nine feet (which is still just a juvenile!). Suddenly, it hit me that I was connected to something much bigger and stronger than I was geared for. See my go-to gear below…
Light Tackle Gear
- Rod: Okuma Celilo (8’6″ MA) or the Okuma SST (8’6″ MA)
- Reel: Penn Battle II or III 4000 series
- Mainline: 15-pound monofilament
- For Bait: Carolina Rig:
- Leader Line: 15-pound fluorocarbon
- Swivels: 15-19mm barrel swivels
- Hooks: size #2 or #4 owner mosquito hooks
- Weights: 1-oz egg weight
- Beads: 8mm fishing beads
Swim Bait Gear
- Rod: Okuma SST-S-902HA – 1/2-2oz | 10-30lb | 9ft | H | MF
- Reel: Penn Spinfisher VI (3500 or 4500)
- Main Line: 30-pound braid
- Leader Line: 30-pound mono
- Lure Options:
Jerk Bait Gear
- Rod: Okuma SST (8’6″ MHA)
- Reel: Penn Battle II or III 4000 series
- Main Line:
- Leader Line: 15-pound fluorocarbon
- Lures: Lucky Craft FM 110 and Shimano WM 115 SP
Shark Gear
- Rod: Fiblink Moonsniper (12 or 13 feet)
- Reel: Penn Battle 8000 (II or III)
- Main Line: 50-pound braid
- Topshot: 100-pound nylon coated mono
- Leaders: Shark Leaders
- Weights: 8-ounce pyramid or 6-ounce sputnik
Outclassed
Adrenaline kicked in. I waded out to waist-deep water to buy myself some line before getting completely spooled, but the shark just kept taking more. Not an absurd burst, but steady and strong. My technique probably wasn’t picture-perfect, but there was no stopping it. When it slowed again, I tried one more head turn. Right then, the tension vanished. My line went completely slack.
Upon reeling in, I found my top-shot shredded about eight to ten feet back. My setup had been outclassed, plain and simple. And of course, I hadn’t even been wearing my GoPro. Since it was early in the season and a brand-new spot, I honestly didn’t expect much. But now, that decision stung a little.
Still, it was a moment I’ll never forget. I can’t say I was mad about losing it. I didn’t really have a plan for fighting something like that, so maybe it was better that it ended the way it did.
Legalities
To be clear, I know the rules. Targeting great white sharks is illegal, and I was not targeting them (nor do I plan to). No matter how specific you try to be, there will always be bycatch, and this was exactly that. There’s even a small (unlikely) chance it could have been a mako instead of a white. Either way, I stayed in the fight hoping for a chance to safely dehook it or at least cut the leader close to the hook.
With that out of the way, let’s move on.
Wrapping It Up
After retying, I sent my bait back out and managed two more quick runs. Both ended up being medium-sized bat rays. After that, I called it a day and headed home.
It may not have ended with a landed fish, but it was one of those sessions that sticks with you. A reminder that the ocean always has the power to surprise you, and sometimes in ways you’ll never forget.
Have you ever heard of girth squared x length divided by 800 to get a weight estimate? I saw a buddy do that with a WSB and it was right in when we got to a scale. Great story and catch!
I have not heard of that formula but i could see it working. I’m just not familiar enough with the GW to really put an estimate on it. But thank you!
Nice catch. What were you using for bait? Heading out tomorrow maybe Torrey Pines or north we’ll see.
Yellowfin croaker. Used a fish and a half for 5 runs total including the GWS👌
Hey Nick-Howzit Brah !! Getting ready for shark season, just bought the Diawa BG 5000 you recommended, and I ordered the Moonsinper rod, but it was damaged when I received it! They didn’t use any packaging material when they shipped the rod! As you would expect i was totally bummed. So my shark rig is still under construction, but can’t wait to pair the BG 5000 with the moonsniper. Thanks for the recommendations…Ernie
Good to hear from ya, Ernie! That’s such a bummer man. I’ve had that happen with a rod before and it sucks. Hopefully they were good about it and they’ll handle it all free of charge. Best of luck out there man and send me an update when you hook up. I’d love to hear about it.
Let me get this straight…you thought you had a 8′ to 9′ GW on the line, likely mad at you for that, and you walked into the surf, waist deep?! Ah, Nick, should the slim chance of this reoccurring actually happen, you might want to rethink that maneuver. :>0
You got that right hahah. Like I said… not much of a gameplan for what happened.
So basically you hooked an illegal to pursue animal you were ill equipped to handle? Cool story bro…
Appreciate it man
What did you expect Nick to do, swim-out and cut the line at the predator fish’s mouth, Sad comment…hyper critical IMHO.
Thanks Bob haha. It is what it is.
NICE SHARK NICK !!!
GOOD JOB AND HAVE A PEACEFUL WEEK MY FRIEND.
Same to you, Richard! Thanks you.
I really enjoyed your story Nick! I have to ask, which beach were you on? I have been keeping track of great white sightings off the coast of San Diego. Thank you!
Thanks, Colleen! I can’t say which beach as I just don’t wanna draw any attraction to any spots. It’s safe to say that they’re present up and down our coast though. I hope you understand.
Great fishing experience and thanks for sharing. I caught and released an Angel shark a few years back. Spanish Landing in the main channel. It offered up a sluggish fight and when I hoisted the shark in my kayak it weighed about 60 LBS but that is just a guess, Since then I read about another angler catching an Angel in the same area, Could have been the same fish I would like to believe but will never know. Last week was good fishing in the bay with 5 halibut caught with some size from 8 to 25 inches. Drop shot Kalins Lunker Grub white off of Harbor Island and Coronado bridge. Looking forward to learning how to surf fish but not quite sure which beaches were allowed to fish legally without fear of infringing on or in any of the Marine protected areas. I do have access to some of the military beaches being retired Navy. Tight Lines.
Thanks for reaching out, Don. And cool experience with the Angel Shark! I’ve heard mixed things about naval access but I would try it for sure if I were you. Camp Pendleton has always peaked my interest and if I had access thats where I’d go.
Use this as a guide for where you can legally fish: http://surffishingsocalsd.com/best-surf-fishing-spots-in-san-diego/
Definitely check in with the state listed mlpa’s but i think I do a pretty good job outlining where you can fish at-least in San Diego County. I also provide a link on there to the “so cal MLPA map”. Hope that helps and right lines to you too.
what is running in ocean view area Norfolk,Va.
Not sure I understand your comment.
Great white catch crazy dilemma he thing As default all you can do didn’t want to leave too much line stuck in its mouth but how far are you gonna Wade into the Serve to meet that creature I’m a If northern California fisherman caught a couple leopards in the months arrays biggest fish I ever hooked at didn’t land on the 6th Two 7′ body length Thrasher tail probably another 34′ probably close to a 100 pound fish Took me an hour and a 1/2 to get it in while transitioning in high tide between rocks and sand bottom and when I saw it with my buddy holding the flashlight I cut the line About 10′ from the fish cause I was not prepared to deal with it So I understand being outmatched It sucks for the one guy about the fishing rod but I caught that thresher on a 13′ old school ugly stick with Is with the old pen 6000 spitting real
Always a thrill as you gotta be thankful for the experience for sure. You win some, you lose some but sometimes there are a few minor wins within the loss and that’s how I look at this one.