What is a blacktip shark and what is the best way to catch them?

The blacktip shark, not to be confused with the blacktip reef shark, is found off the coast of the Americas, Africa, Asia, Australasia and in the Mediterranian sea.

The blacktip shark is large in size and is fairly wide as sharks go. The blacktip shark is quite noticable due to its long, slim snout, long gill slits and the fact that its fins are normally black at their tips.

Contrary to belief the blacktip shark is quite docile and is unlikely to attack a human unless it feels threatened in any way. Compared to other sharks the blacktip is a powerful fast swimmer that is strong enough to breach the waters surface and spin in mid air before crashing back in to the depths below.

Blacktip sharks favourite food is any type of bony fish like sardines, herring, mackerel and the new born of other shark species to name a few.

Catching  a blackfin shark

The best way to catch a blackfin if your are fishing off a beach or pier in to coastal waters is to cut a mackerel in half and hook it to a shark rig before casting it up current (preferably near a channel or a bottom dwellng structure like a reef or ship) and wait for the blackfin to bite. Due to the strength of blackfin sharks it is prudent to put your rod in a holder and let the drag loose so when you get a bite the line can smoke off the reel ensuring your line does not break.

Once the blackfin is on your rod it is a matter of using your own skill to land this great tasting, beautiful shark.

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