Shark Fishing on Golden Beach

Question
Dear Mr. Arnov,
     Recently, family bought a home in Golden Beach Florida, and i have some questions about how to catch sharks from the surf.  First of all, what species of sharks, if any, should i expect to catch?  Also, how big would they be?  At the local sports authority i picked up two 12 foot Ugly Stick rods and big reels to go with them.  I was down there for spring break in early March and didnt have any luck off the surf.  What type of rigs should i be using to catch sharks and how far out do i need to be casting?  For bait i used some chopped mullet which I cast netted in the intercoastal.  And also, since the house is on the Intercoastal, i am wondering if it is possible to catch sharks in there, and if so, how?  I will be going back to Golden Beach to spend a week in early May when i get out of college so i am hoping to get some shark fishing in.  Thank you for your time sir.

Blake Smith

Answer
Dear  Mr. Smith,
    Sharks range the coast and come in close to shore, as close as 10 feet at times, any time of the year.  May is probably a little late for the migration of blacktip and spinner sharks, but some may still be around.  In addition, there are bull and nurse sharks. All of these might be dangerous, so if they are around standing in the water casting might be a hazard although I have been doing it for years and have had no trouble.  The place to find is a slough, a deep area running parallel to the beach that has a sandbar beyond it.  Sharks as well as other fishes cruise such areas looking for food.  I can't tell what kind or rods you bought, but if you can cast a large and heavy bait into such a slough, that's where you should be.  This could be 20 to 100 feet out.  Or more.  Large sharks can be found in this area.  Although mullet would work, I would rather use a bloody bait that would leave a trail in the water that would attract sharks.  A piece of bonito or tuna is great and you might find such bait at the Sunny Isles docks near you.  Although surely sharks occasionally enter the Intracoastal, it is rare and probably a waste of time to try there.  If a bloody fish can't be found as bait, the butcher might have some bloody meat he probably is going to throw away.  Try that.  Good luck and be careful as sharks out of the water and seemingly dead may not be, and are still able to bite.  Boris Arnov