How many people do you take on a guided trip?
I prefer 1 to 2 people, to ensure all parties are safe, having fun, and to help give you the best chance to get on a large shark. Any more than a couple people tends to be a bit much, and I prefer a more intimate experience for my clients.
When is the best time for fishing for leopard sharks?
It really depends on a few factors, largely the weather and tidal conditions. I tend to like to fish during a slack tide (between tides) because there is less water moving and the bait doesn’t get covered in seaweed. But you can really fish for them all day long, they’re big animals so they feed all day.
Do you provide kayaks and fishing gear?
Yes, we provide the kayaks, lifevests and gear.
What should we bring on the kayak trip?
Snacks, sunscreen, swim trunks, hooded longsleeve shirt to keep the sun off you, and warm clothes that you’re ok getting wet. We don’t recommend wearing shoes other than maybe old sandals with straps that you don’t mind losing in the muck. The back bay is like muddy quicksand in some places. If you sink while launching or getting in and out of the kayak, there’s a good chance you lose a shoe. We’d also leave your phone in the car, you don’t want to lose your phone overboard when you hook up with a shark.
Do you take photos/video?
Yes. I’m a former outdoors journalist and have even won AP and California Newspaper Publishers Association awards for my photos. I also shot / edited / produced a surf documentary, so I’ve been known to get good photos/videos of clients! Don’t worry about that part. Just worry about catching a big leopard shark, and I’ll capture the moment with my GoPro and onboard cameras!
Where should we meet?
We’ll be in Morro Bay, somewhere, but the launch and meetup spot depends on the conditions that day. I will contact you the day before the trip with where we’ll likely meet, which depends on regulations, tides, weather and recent shark activity.
Do we need waivers, fishing licenses?
Yes, I will provide the waiver by email when you sign up for a trip. You must have a valid California fishing license purchased before the trip and provide photos of your valid license.
Can we keep the sharks we catch?
You could, legally. But we practice catch and release, and release all sharks unharmed on all of our trips. I’ve actually never kept a shark, because I surf and don’t want the bad karma.
While we are avid fishermen, we are also shark conservationists and got into this business because we love these beautiful sharks on our home waters and want people to learn more about these creatures and why they are important to our oceans.
We do everything by the book at CCFA and we practice catch and release on all our shark trips.