Shark Species We Catch: Gulf Coast Beach Shark Fishing
Shark Species You'll Encounter on Our Guided Trips
One of the first questions people ask when they book a guided shark fishing trip with us: "What kind of sharks are we going to catch?" The honest answer is that it depends on the season, water temperature, and what the bait is doing, but across a full year of fishing from Pensacola Beach to Gulf Shores, we regularly encounter seven to ten different species. Some are bulldogs that drag you down the beach. Others are acrobats that go airborne the second they feel the hook. Here's what you need to know about each one.
Bull Shark
The bull shark is the king of inshore waters and the species most of our clients come specifically to target. Bulls are thick, powerful, and mean, they don't jump, they don't run sideways, they just put their head down and pull. Hard. A 6-foot bull will test your gear, your knots, and your cardio.
Bulls love warm, murky water and are comfortable in depths as shallow as 3 feet. That's what makes beach fishing for them so effective, they cruise the first and second sandbars looking for stingrays, mullet, and anything else that fits in their mouth. We catch bulls year-round, but the best action is May through October when water temps are above 75°F.
Average size on our trips: 4 to 7 feet, 80 to 250 lbs
Best months: May to October
Best rig: Slide rig with kayak deployment, 16/0 circle hook
Fight style: Raw power, long sustained runs, stays deep
Blacktip Shark
Blacktips are the most common shark we catch from the beach and the most fun pound-for-pound. They're fast, they jump, and when a school of them moves through chasing bait, you can hook up multiple times in a single session. If you've ever seen sharks launching out of the water during the mullet run, those are blacktips.
Blacktips show up in big numbers from March through November along the entire Gulf Coast. They stack up in the surf zone wherever bait congregates, which makes them perfect targets for both cast rigs and balloon rigs. They're the species we start most beginners on because the action is consistent and the fights are exciting without being overwhelming.
Average size on our trips: 3 to 5 feet, 30 to 80 lbs
Best months: March to November (peak: June to August)
Best rig: Fish-finder rig or balloon rig, 8/0 to 10/0 circle hook
Fight style: Explosive runs, aerial jumps, fast and athletic
Hammerhead Shark
Hammerheads are the most recognizable shark on the beach. Great hammerheads can exceed 12 feet and several hundred pounds.
They're stingray specialists, but we never target them. If you happen to run into one, it stays in the water and goes right back. Hammerheads are a protected species in Florida and must be released, we practice careful handling and quick releases on every hammerhead we catch.
Average size on our trips: 6 to 10+ feet, 150 to 400+ lbs
Best months: May to September
Best rig: Not targeted. Catch and release only, released in the water
Fight style: Hard runs and head shakes. Heavy drag keeps the fight short
Spinner Shark
Spinners earned their name honestly, hook one and it'll launch out of the water spinning like a football. They're closely related to blacktips and often mixed in with them in the surf zone, but spinners tend to be a bit larger and even more acrobatic. A big spinner will go airborne three or four times during a fight.
Like blacktips, spinners follow the bait migrations along the Gulf Coast and are most reliable from late spring through fall. They respond well to fresh-cut mullet and smaller whole baits fished on lighter tackle. The spinning jumps make for some of the best action shots we get on our trips.
Average size on our trips: 4 to 6 feet, 50 to 120 lbs
Best months: April to October
Best rig: Slide rig or balloon rig, 10/0 circle hook
Fight style: Aerial spins, fast runs, spectacular to watch
Lemon Shark
Lemons are the chill ones. Lemon sharks are thick-bodied fish that can push 10 feet, and they're common in the shallow, sandy flats that line the Gulf Coast.
Lemon sharks are a prohibited species in Florida and we never target them. If you happen to run into one, it stays in the water and goes right back. They tend to hang around structure, sandbars, troughs, and anywhere baitfish congregate. They're also one of the more social species, and it's not unusual to see multiple lemons in the same area. Lemons are easy to identify by their yellowish-brown color and two dorsal fins that are nearly the same size.
Average size on our trips: 5 to 8 feet, 100 to 200 lbs
Best months: April to August
Best rig: Not targeted. Catch and release only, released in the water
Fight style: Steady pulls, uses body weight, stays near bottom
Nurse Shark
Nurse sharks are bottom-dwellers that we encounter fairly often, especially at night. They're not going to give you the drag-screaming run of a bull shark, but they're cool to see up close, they look prehistoric. Nurses are generally docile and relatively easy to handle for release.
We catch nurses most frequently at Fort Morgan and Navarre Beach where the bottom structure is more varied. They'll eat just about any cut bait that sits on the bottom long enough.
Average size on our trips: 4 to 7 feet, 60 to 150 lbs
Best months: Year-round (more active in warmer months)
Best rig: Fish-finder rig with bottom bait
Fight style: Slow and heavy, hugs the bottom
Tiger Shark
Tigers are rare from the beach.
Tiger sharks are a protected species that must be released immediately. If you happen to run into one, it stays in the water and goes right back.
Average size on our trips: 7 to 10+ feet (rare encounters)
Best months: June to August
Best rig: Not targeted. Catch and release only, released in the water
Fight style: Powerful, unpredictable, jaw-dropping
Other Species We Encounter
Beyond the big names, we regularly hook into a few other species worth mentioning:
- Bonnethead sharks, Small hammerhead relatives (2 to 3 feet) that are common in the shallows. Great for kids and beginners.
- Atlantic sharpnose sharks, The smallest sharks we catch, usually 2 to 3 feet. They show up in large numbers and hit cut bait aggressively.
- Blacknose sharks, Mid-size sharks (3 to 4 feet) with a distinctive dark smudge on the snout. Good fighters for their size.
- Scalloped hammerheads, Smaller than great hammerheads but still impressive. Prohibited in Florida and released in the water.
Catch and Release, How We Handle Every Shark
Every shark we catch on our trips is released. We use circle hooks exclusively (required by Florida law for shore-based shark fishing), which hook the corner of the mouth and make for clean, safe releases. We keep sharks in the water during dehooking, minimize handling time, and get them swimming again as fast as possible.
Some species, including hammerheads, tiger sharks, and great whites, are protected and cannot be removed from the water at all. We follow all state and federal regulations on every trip. For the full rundown on what's legal, check our Florida shark fishing regulations guide.
When to Book for the Species You Want
Here's the quick breakdown by season:
- Spring (March to May): Blacktips and spinners start showing up in big numbers. Early bull shark season begins.
- Summer (June to August): Peak season for everything. Bulls, blacktips, and spinners. This is when we see the biggest variety and the biggest fish.
- Fall (September to November): The mullet run brings massive blacktip and spinner action. Bulls are still active.
- Winter (December to February): Slower season overall, but bulls and nurse sharks are still catchable on warmer days. Best time for a quieter beach experience.
Want to target a specific species? Contact us and we'll help you pick the best date for what you're after. Or check our trip pricing page to book now, all gear, bait, and expertise included.
Fish With Us
We run guided beach shark fishing trips from Pensacola Beach through Perdido Key, Gulf Shores, Fort Morgan, Navarre Beach, and Destin. Every trip includes all tackle, bait, and instruction, whether it's your first shark or your fiftieth. Check our FAQ or what to bring guide for more details.
