Sharks & Rays

Bonnethead

Cornuda tiburo

Sphyrna tiburo

SaltwaterBrackish

At a glance

Typical size

2–3 ft.

Depth

1–20 ft.

Best time

Dusk and night are prime.

Found in

11 areas

Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.

Identification: Small hammerhead with a smooth, rounded, shovel-shaped head.
Typical size: 2–3 ft.
Maximum size: About 5 ft.
Diet: Crabs, shrimp and even some seagrass.
Behavior: Cruises beaches, passes, flats and reefs, often following bait and the smell of chum.

Where, when and how deep to look.

Where to find it: Found from Florida Atlantic Coast, Florida Gulf Coast, South Florida & Keys, Northern Gulf (AL–TX), Mexico Gulf Coast, Mexican Caribbean & Belize, Central America, Bahamas & Turks and Caicos, Cuba, Georgia & South Carolina and North Carolina. Shallow grass flats and bays, where it eats crabs and shrimp.
Habitat: Shallow grass flats and bays, where it eats crabs and shrimp.
Depth: 1–20 ft.
Fishing depth: From waist-deep surf to reef edges and channels.
Best season: All year in South Florida; spring and summer are busiest along the Gulf.
Best time: Dusk and night are prime.
Best tides: Moving water in passes and along beaches.
Best weather / conditions: Fishable in most conditions you can handle safely.

What to tie on and what to throw.

Best bait: Shrimp, crab and cut fish.
Best artificial lures: Will take shrimp imitations sight-cast on the flats.
Tackle setup: Heavy spinning or conventional, 50–80 lb class.
Hook size: 10/0–16/0 non-stainless, non-offset circle hooks (required when shark fishing in Florida and federal waters with natural bait).
Line: 50–80 lb braid or mono.
Leader: Wire or heavy cable leader longer than the shark.

The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.

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Step by step, from first cast to landing.

Go where it lives: Shallow grass flats and bays, where it eats crabs and shrimp.
Rig up: Heavy spinning or conventional, 50–80 lb class. Wire or heavy cable leader longer than the shark.
Pick your bait: Shrimp, crab and cut fish. Lures: Will take shrimp imitations sight-cast on the flats.
Fish it: Sight-cast on the flats with light inshore tackle and a short wire leader.
Time it: Dusk and night are prime. Moving water in passes and along beaches.

Fishing techniques: Sight-cast on the flats with light inshore tackle and a short wire leader.
BigJoe's tip: Great light-tackle fun for kids on the flats.
Catch and release: Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.

Edibility: Good eating when fresh.
Cleaning: Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.
Cooking suggestions: Cook fish to 145°F (63°C) — the flesh turns opaque and flakes easily. Fry, grill, bake or blacken.

Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.

Safety warnings: Never pull a shark onto the sand by the tail or bring large sharks aboard. Cut the leader close to the hook if you can't remove it safely.
Regulations: Florida and federal shark rules apply (bag limits; shore-based shark permit from the beach). A Florida fishing license is required unless you are exempt; Florida rules are set by FWC (myfwc.com). Federal waters fall under NOAA Fisheries. Other states and countries set their own limits — check before you keep fish.
Conservation: Keep only what you'll eat, release the rest quickly, and follow size and bag limits.

Tap an area to open its fishing map.

Sources & photo credits