Nurse Shark fishing in Florida

Nurse sharks are the slow, brown bottom-dwelling sharks that rest under ledges, bridges and docks by day and prowl the flats, seawalls and channels at night, most common in the Keys and south Florida and through the warm months further north. They are rarely targeted for sport but often pick up a bottom bait meant for snapper or grouper, then dig in and pull like a stubborn rock. A shark rig with a heavy leader, a big circle hook and a chunk of oily fish or squid on the bottom will find them after dark around bridges and harbor walls. Nurse sharks look docile but have powerful jaws and will bite and hold on if handled or provoked, so never reach near the mouth or grab the tail; cut the leader close to the hook if it is not easy to reach. Shore-based shark fishing needs FWC's free permit, some shark species are prohibited, and there are handling requirements — check current FWC rules and release them in the water.