Bonnethead fishing in Florida

Bonnetheads are small, shovel-headed hammerhead sharks common across Florida's shallow bays, grass flats, lagoons and surf through the warm months. They eat mostly crabs and shrimp, so they are often caught on baits meant for redfish, trout or pompano, and on calm flats you can see them cruising and tailing in a foot or two of water on a rising tide. They are a great light-tackle target: a piece of blue crab, shrimp or cut bait on a Carolina or fish-finder rig with 15 to 20 lb line, a short wire or heavy bite leader and a 2/0 to 5/0 non-stainless circle hook is plenty. Sight-cast ahead of a cruising fish and let it find the bait. Shore-based shark fishing in Florida requires a free FWC shore-based shark fishing permit and specific gear and handling, and some sharks are prohibited and must stay in the water, so check current FWC rules before keeping one. Bonnetheads have small mouths but can still bite, so use pliers, support the body and release them quickly in the water.