Shark Fishing Off Virginia Beach

Back when we were fishing out of Key Largo and then Hatteras, the only times we caught sharks were by accident! I can remember fishing one year for King Mackerel off the Outer Banks, and my wife wrangled with a big one, much to her horror. I couldn't get it off her line fast enough. She wanted nothing to do with any fish with that many teeth. But off Virginia Beach, it's great sport for anglers of all ages and abilities.

I like to catch bait fish before going to one of our shark haunts. This year, the bluefish have been numerous, and they are fun to catch, so I try to load up on them. All the anglers get in on this. And if I have anyone onboard good with a cast net, we load up on menhaden, too. They are an oily fish, and shark really like them. We keep our bait alive for maximum action. Using a block of chum helps lure shark - and anything else that's hungry - to the boat faster.

We don't have to go too far off shore for this kind of fishing. I drop the anchor when I get to a good spot and get everyone rigged up. I like using light tackle, especially for the more experienced anglers. Sharks are fun to catch and put up a really good fight. Hooking live bait to the hook through the back of the bait fish ensures that the bait will swim around, attracting hungry sharks. It's easy to tell when the big guys are getting close by, because the bait fish go crazy trying to swim away.

Off Virginia Beach, we routinely catch and then release several kinds of sharks, including black tip, spinners, and hammerheads. Fish in the 4 to 6 foot range are common. And when they start coming into the area in numbers, we can cast out to them. Hang on then; they put up a fight.

It's a great way to introduce young anglers to the treat of catching a big fish without the investment of going way off shore. Sharks are hardy, and they clearly survive when released. I just wonder how many people on the beach know how close the sharks really are. I'm not going to tell!