While in most cases a medium sized rod will suffice there are situations that give the shark fisherman using a longer rod an advantage.Such is the case when fishing from a bridge or pier where the rods extra length is used like a spring to turn a shark's head as it is attempting to dive under and out the other side.The long rod can be the difference between a catch and a loss in this case.The long rod is used like a teeter-totter ,the angler puts the rod butt between his legs, and rest the rod just below the middle of the rod on the rail and squats down to bend the rod and to apply upward pressure.The use of a thick walled rod blank that won't snap in two is critical for this technique to work and put leverage to your advantage.As the shark goes under the pressure is incresed on the angler so friends may have to hold you down to keep you from being slung up and over the rail into the drink.In order to keep there rods from getting torn up on the concrete bridge rail or wooden pier rail the guys in the shark club tape or tie-wrap a section of clear garden hose from the rod fore grip to just past the rod's middle section .On the beach if you are not in good physical shape those heavy thick walled 9 or 10 foot rods with a 14//0 or 16/0 can be a death sentence but on a bridge it spells success for those that know how to use the extra length to there advantage.
A Penn Senator 16/0 with a heavy 10 foot gator glass blank,,,just what the doctor ordered for bridge or pier fishing.
South Florida Shark Club member and Junior master angler Aaron Bunch has learned the technique well as evidenced by his many catches on the west coast as well as the east coast of Florida.
Aaron hard at work on a blacktip shark.
The blacktip has been subdued.
The final result before being released.
The veteranJD Hammer(Jimbo) before snapping one of his long rods on a jewfish.
Luis Iglesias another shark club veteran knows how to use the technique well,,,,,,hairy,hairy monster
