03-21-2006, 03:11 PM
I put a ball bearing swivel on every rig I use, even on the end of my lures because of how much if frees the side to side movement. The sharks actually spin different directions each time, rapping the line around their bodies in different directions until it finally kinks up so bad it breaks. I've gotten back leaders that looked like an accordian. If they just leaped strait out of the water, single strand would be fine. Even pro shark hunters, they use super heavy gage braided steel cable, like what you would see on a truck wench for leader material. I rode along for a shark tournament out of Murrells inlet one year on the Silver Stallion. I wasn't involved, just a spectator, but it is no joke. I'm shure you know that if this won't be your first rodeo. Getting them to the boat and tag and release isn't too bad, i've done plenty of that, but you bring'em back in a tournament, and man-handling a 500+ pound fish is not for the faint of heart. I do my fair share of shark fishing, mostly tag and release unless I snag a small 3 or 4 footer, then he is going to be introduced to the grill. But I target the smaller sharks, in the 6 to 7 foot range. I don't think my poor old back could handle anything any bigger.
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