Blacktip Shark
Carcharhinus limbatus
Also known as: Blacktip, swartpunt
Illustration: gardenroutefishing.co.za
A fast, spectacular inshore shark that leaps and spins when hooked — a summer highlight for surf shark anglers.
Field guide
Grey back, white belly, black-tipped fins; slender fast body; leaps when hooked.
Warm inshore surf and estuary mouths
Common 15-60 kg
Fast pursuit of shoaling baitfish; often airborne
Powerful, sustained runs and dogged head-shaking — big fish test heavy tackle and your stamina rather than jumping.
Spinner shark, bronze whaler
How to catch Blacktip Shark
Heavy surf outfit, 24 kg+, wire/heavy mono trace, circle hooks
Large baitrunner spinning reel (8000–14000) or a 6/0–9/0 conventional with 300 m+ line capacity and a strong, smooth drag.
0.50–0.70 mm mono or 50–80 lb braid for the mainline.
8/0–12/0 non-stainless circle hooks (rust out if a deep-hooked fish is released).
1.5–2 m of 100–300 lb mono trace; multi-strand wire or cable for toothy sharks.
Whole mullet, shad head, mackerel
When to catch Blacktip Shark
Warm periods, low light
Feeds hard on moving water, especially the push and after dark; spring tides and a warm current switch them on.
Warm summer periods, low-light
Most active in warmer water, roughly 18–23 °C, especially when bait shoals are inshore.
🥅 Landing
On the beach, use the swash to slide the fish onto wet sand; from rocks, lead it to a safe gulley. Never gaff a shark you plan to release.
♻️ Release
Keep it in the water, support the body, remove the hook with a de-hooker or cut the trace close, then revive it upright facing the current until it swims off strongly.
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