| Become part of the growing interest to participate in | | | | system for different sharks landed with bonus points |
| a shark surf fishing tournament. It's the ultimate surf | | | | added if you can provide other criteria. There are a |
| fishing tournament experience. Shark fishing from the | | | | lot of opportunities to build your score for a winning |
| surf is a team sport for the most adrenalin rush you'll | | | | entry. They make it easy to compete as long as you |
| ever get. This surf fishing sport is generating the | | | | can land sharks. Even if you don't win with you're |
| interest of surf anglers all over. | | | | entry you'll still have bragging rights to your friends |
| In the past few years new shark fishing tournaments | | | | for the sharks you landed. That alone is worth a lot |
| have been established to satisfy the enthusiasm | | | | right there. |
| expressed by avid surf anglers. The requirements to | | | | Prize Money Awarded |
| enter a shark fishing tournament are much the same | | | | Prize money awarded for winning entries is significant. |
| as a regular fishing tournament with a few | | | | These tournaments take in a lot of money because |
| differences. This article will introduce you to how a | | | | they encompass such a large area to fish and have |
| shark surf fishing tournament is conducted. | | | | so many team entries. It's not unusual for a $50 per |
| First of all shark tournaments are a team involvement | | | | person entry fee or $400 per team. The entry fees |
| primarily because of the process to land, handle and | | | | collected add up quickly. Payouts are huge compared |
| release the sharks. Most shark tournaments are now | | | | to other fishing tournaments an amateur angler can |
| conducted under the catch and release practice for | | | | enter. |
| good conservation measures. | | | | Tournament Rules |
| Team Entries | | | | Tournament rules are very important. Be sure to |
| Team entries are the norm, starting with a minimum | | | | read, understand and comply with all the tournament |
| of three members and up to five or six on a team. | | | | rules. Failure to follow the rules will easily get you |
| This is not the type of tournament for the | | | | disqualified. It would be a shame to have a winning |
| inexperienced shark angler. Due to the dangers | | | | entry and then be disqualified on a technicality. The |
| involved at least one member must be 18 years old. | | | | rules aren't hard to follow. Just be sure you have a |
| If you land a shark it's important to know how to | | | | complete understanding of all the specifics. |
| safely handle and release it back to the surf. Team | | | | Shark Surf Fishing Tournament Tips |
| entries follow typical surf tournament conventions to | | | | If you plan on trying you're luck and want to improve |
| participate in the event. Some tournament entry fees | | | | your chances for a winning entry. Find a tournament |
| are based on a team fee and some have a fee for | | | | you can enter where you can fish out of Ormond |
| each individual member of the team. | | | | Beach Florida or New Smyrna Florida. These two |
| Tournament Time Frames | | | | locations have a reputation for high shark activity in |
| Shark tournaments are usually conducted over | | | | the surf. Lots of sharks are caught from these two |
| several days and weeks. Generally they will start | | | | locations. |
| during the spring and summer months. Lots of | | | | Before entering a shark fishing tournament do some |
| tournaments will run for 30 days or more. | | | | reconnaissance at the beach during a tournament to |
| Tournament Fishing Boundaries | | | | gather techniques and ideas to improve your skills. |
| The interesting thing about shark surf fishing | | | | You'll have a chance to see some sharks landed and |
| tournaments that you will find is that the tournament | | | | how other anglers approach this sport. A small |
| boundaries often take in an entire state. For example, | | | | investment of your time will yield good results. It's |
| if the tournament was organized in Pensacola, FL, | | | | pretty exciting just to see a shark landed. |
| you could fish out of Miami and submit your entry for | | | | When scouting out a shark tournament look for the |
| that tournament. There are even tournaments that | | | | most effective bait anglers are using. Find out what |
| take in more than one state with the caveat that | | | | the bigger sharks are caught on. Bigger sharks score |
| the anglers comply with all the local fishing regulations | | | | higher and get your rankings up quicker. |
| for their state. | | | | If you are gathering data to fish a tournament be |
| Multiple Categories of Sharks | | | | sure to learn what part of the surf the sharks are |
| Shark tournaments will include categories for different | | | | being taken from. Sharks can be anywhere in the |
| shark species. Winning entries can be based on | | | | surf, though they seem to like the water that is 8' to |
| different things. It's pretty common to have a point | | | | 10' deep out past the sand bar. |