We fished in the canal right before the lighthouse at St. Mark's today and caught a couple dozen blue crabs and some assorted mullet/pinfish. Got three sharks hooked up and none landed. One was a hoss - saw him coming from 150 yards away because he was pushing a big wake in front of him. I was catching crabs for Mrs. Geno and had a rod with 6lb mono out for trout/reds with a fiddler crab on. Big old shark had a white ramora on it and swam right by us at about ten feet, right up to that crab and took it right on with him. Did not sink the hook in. I don't know how, had him for 50 yards and then...nothing.

Hooked one that tail danced and threw the hook maybe 18" long, and another that ran for 30-40 yards that we never saw. Once we figured out there were some sharks in the canal, I changed over to a wire leader, ten pound mono and a pinfish head just a little smaller than my hand.

The mullet were swimming around where we were and I tossed the throw net out a half dozen times. Kept five well over a pound each.

No expert on the salt here but I think you're going to need a little heavier line.

All you need is a smooth drag. They don't ever head for cover.

When I head out to the bay proper tomorrow I will up it to 20lb. Everything there gets fished pretty hard and the lighter line makes for more bites. I can't ever seem to hook 'em good anyway so it doesn't really matter. lol.

Geno, I looked this up on line. Almost bought one a few years ago when a buddy was talking about spear hunting. Back screws off. Use a screw-on broom handle.

What an outstanding idea. I'll have to order one!

I almost forgot we had two alligators swim by as well. I thought they were big fish at first and was chucking a pinfish head at them but it was two lizards about four feet each kind of playing with each other.

Make sure you're using a wire leader for those sharks.

Or heavy mono, catch them all the time on it, but do use a circle hook.
Sharks will set the hook for you if you let em. They hate to let go.
20# line is plenty. I've caught them up to 300# on 20# rig.

Allright ladies - I am about to head out to hit the bay. I have five big mullet heads and a pinfish about half a pound.

Maybe we can get a toothy fish to play well with others this morning.

Edit: Maybe "I" can get on a grey suit. Mrs. Geno was tossing and turning all night from all the excitement yesterday and elected to sleep in.

I'll try to keep my phone close so I can take the occasional pic or video of anything noteworthy. The love of my life usually does that part and holds the tail rope from way off.

Speaking of tail rope, I forgot to get the little piece of dock line I normally use for that so I stopped in the local Ace Hardware to get something to help remove the propeller from my prey and hold them tight while they bleed out. The rope they had on sale looks like the ghey flag. I will have to take a pic of it sometime before I set it up. I'm sure it will become standard ALdeer fare for all those who choose to chase the real top predator.

Alas - they have my number. Used up all my bait and got a lot of strikes but no hookups.

Steaming monster blue crabs and grilling/smoking mullet as we speak.

A reduction of the crab steam water with zatairans and crab bits in it makes for a wonderful sauce for the mullet.

Smoked mullet is top of the line in my book...some fine eating right there! I like to fillet em.....fry the fillets and smoke the backbone/tail section...lots of fine meat around them rib bones.