George Gabriel goes toe-to-toe with Victoria’s bronzed brawlers.

Victorians don’t have much in the way of game fishing from kayaks, but with the warmer currents pushing down from the east coast during the summer months, both Port Phillip Bay and Western Port receive an influx of bronze whaler sharks to fill the void. As these sharks often inhabit relatively shallow water, they make an ideal target for kayak anglers who want to get the adrenaline pumping.
Locations
Bronze whalers can be found in most parts of the port; however, picking an area with shallow water (4 to 8m) within 2km from shore makes life a lot easier on a kayaker. By fishing in the shallows where the current isn’t too strong, a steady berley trail can be set without the tide taking it away too quickly. Secondly, fishing relatively close to shore means larger sharks can be towed to the beach should they prove too much to handle from akayak.
These locations are typically inhabited by an abundance of bait including squid, whiting, pike and mullet, hence making them ideal hunting grounds for bronzies.

Berley
While bronzies can be caught without the use of berley, it is definitely the most important element to attract them and a good berley trail increases the chances of raising a shark tenfold. I had previously attempted a couple of shark chasing sessions without success and after some research I noticed that bronze whalers have very small eyes when compared to their bodies. This led me to believe they rely strongly on scent and vibrations in the water and it made me realise I had not been berleying enough.
The easiest way to berley from a kayak is with frozen berley logs hung over the side in a scaler bagwhich should be tethered to the kayak via light mono in the off chance that a shark grabs it.
Berley logs create a fine oily slick that slowly makes its way across the entire water column. I found that it’s important to berley in a logical way to get the most out of the time and berley you have. When fishing at anchor it is best to fish between two tides rather than during a tide change as this allows a solid trail to be run for around 6 hours in the same direction and therefore covering an expansive area of water.
This seems to be far more effective than fishing 2 to 3 hours or so either side of the tide as the trail will be broken when the tide turns, resulting in any curious shark not being able to find the baits. The large amount of berley in the water also draws in smaller fish such as mullet, which acts as another source of berley. To put it simply, the more berley you use, the more likely you are to attract a shark.

Bait
Most baitfish that reside in the port naturally make a good bait including pike, mullet, yakkas, slimy mackerel and squid. The good thing is that these fish can be targeted in roughly the same area as bronzies, which makes bait collecting quick and convenient. Should fresh bait be hard to find, I have no hesitation in using frozen baits. Small whole fish and head baits are best rigged with a large single hook whereas larger baits should be presented with a two hook rig and secured with cable ties to ensure it sits straight and appears natural.
Tackle and Rigging
A 10 to 15 kg overhead rod with a reel capable of holding at least 400 m of 10 to 15kg mono is adequate for most sharks that you will encounter in the port. Those that can’t be stopped on this gear are probably best not to be caught on a kayak anyway. Spin gear can also be used although the ratchet and lever drag feature on overhead reels makes it a lot easier to set the hook after the shark is allowed to run.
From the main line a wind on leader of about 6m with a breaking strain of 80 to 200lb should be attached via a plaited double and then joined to the wire trace. Sharks tend to roll during the fight so having a long wind on leader will reduce break offs caused by their abrasive skin. In terms of wire I like to use about 2 to 2.5 m of 49 strand rated at 150 to 300 lb. Any longer and it is difficult to deal with a shark yak side. I have a preference for 49 strand wire as it is quite thin and supple which provides a natural presentation. It doesn’t kink either, unlike 7 strand, therefore eliminating weak spots.
Hook size should be matched to the bait being used; however, those in the 8/0 to 12/0 size will cover most cases. Bronzies will feed across all levels of the water column although it is best to suspend the bait under a balloon at around mid-water to reduce the number of by catch such as large stingrays and small school sharks which will waste time and bait.
Dispatching
It is important to be well prepared when it comes to releasing or dispatching a shark as this is where things can go wrong. If you intend to releasethe sharks, the safest option is to paddle to shore and land it on the beach. Alternatively, a de-hooker or a large set of long nosed pliers can be used to unhook the shark at the kayak should the hook not be too deep.
If keeping a shark for a feed, you could once again tow it to shore and dispatch it there; however, my preferred method is to hit the shark on the head with a bat multiple times before bleeding it and using a tail rope to take it back to the beach. I do not recommend using a gaff on a kayak as this does not immediately kill the fish and things could get out of hand quite quickly.
Bronzies make excellent eating, the flesh is similar to that of a gummy shark but as with all sharks, it is important to bleed and gut it as soon as possible.
So, the next time you’re searching for your next challenge, why not consider a grey-suited bandit? The thought of hooking my next one is enough to get my heart racing.

George Gabriel’s earliest memories in fishing are targeting squid and salmon off the piers and surf beaches on the Mornington Peninsula with his grandfather. He has since continued to fish in fresh and saltwater with both baits and lures. George is 20 years old and enjoys all forms of fishing for species across the board. Trout and mulloway remain a passion, and George is considered one of Australia’s kayak fishing young guns.