How to catch Silky shark in Florida

Silky shark feed in 72–88°F water and bite best at 76–84°F.

60 pts · trophy at 84"Feeds 72–88°FBest 76–84°FIn season nowLedge / hard bottomWreck

About

The smooth-skinned shark of the blue water, under every weedline and around the deep rigs with the tuna, that eats the hooked blackfin on the way up. Protected — release.

How to fish it

You meet them tuna fishing. A chunk on cable if you mean to, and a quick release in the water.

What it eats

hooked tunalive baitschunks

Live bait for it

Bonito (cut)Whole on cable for tiger and bull sharks; fillets and chunks on the bottom for grouper and snapper; strips trolled for wahoo.

Blue runners (hardtails)Nose-hooked and slow-trolled on a wire stinger rig for kings; bridled for sailfish and cobia.

What to fish it with

the sizes that fish it

Leader40–60 lb fluorocarbon

Hook4/0–8/0

Braid50–100 lb

The rule

not confirmed here

Prohibited from harvest — catch-and-release only; confirm at MyFWC.

The current rule at MyFWC →

Month by month, water by water

When silky shark is the story

The Panhandle

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The Florida Keys

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Miami & Biscayne Bay

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Palm Beach & the Treasure Coast

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