Blacktip Shark Fishing in Florida

Small, but fast Carcharhinus Melanopterus, or Blacktip Reef, is the smallest of all sharks only getting to about 5 or 6 feet. This good looking shark gets its name from the pointed snout and black tips on its fins (especially its dorsal fin).

They love the warm and shallow water near sandy beaches and coral reefs. Blacktips have an odd technique when hunting, they jump and catapult out of the water which is some type of hunting technique that they like to do with others of their species. They like to feed on reef fish, and mullet. They can also be skittish so they aren’t very aggressive toward humans. Tackle and lines in the 20 to 30 pound class for smaller Blacktips and up to 50 pound for larger blacktips. I will will drift or slow troll with fresh cut bait. To catch the larger sharks, I use heavy spinning gear loaded with 30-pound mono or 50-pound braided line. The braided line allows more backing should you need more running room when a big Blacktip takes off. If they look under four feet, we use a medium-action spinning outfits with 20-pound braided line, 3-foot fluorocarbon leaders and 3/0 circle hooks.

You can catch the blacktip with no minimum size limit, they are considered as one of the better tasting sharks, their meat is pinkish and sweet. Fillets of Blacktip are excellent grilled. A 4 foot Blacktip fillet will look like a very long pork tenderloin. Maritnate and grill like a steak

Did you know…… Sharks are the only fish that have eyelids

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