What do you guys prefer for your shark rigs? Has anyone tried the ebay Dynema or Spectra braid from Hong Kong or China? I've read mixed reviews. How does braid stand up against sandbars?

I have a PENN 6/0 wide spool, which is about halfway between the 6/0 and 9/0 in capacity.

I loaded it up with 65lb braid on a 75 yard backing of 50lb test, and then added a topshot of 60lb mono.

The braid got bit in half by something once, and I lost 200 yards of it and the top shot, and went back with 60lb mono. With a 9/0, I'd think that a boatload of 60-80lb mono would be best, and not bother with the costly braid. Rubbing on sand slowly weakens the braid, but doesn't seem to bother the mono.

You should figure out what the strength of the drag is, and size the mono so it is about that strong or a little more, because stronger line than your drag's capability is pointless unless you are going for abrasion resistance.

Ya, I started looking at the braid option because I lost two good fish to sandbar cuts on 80lb mono. So abrasion resistance is a pretty high priority for me. I've heard that kingfish will hit braid if it's brightly colored.

I agree with the 60-80lb mono idea. Typically a 9/0 is on a shorter boat type rod so your angle relative to the water is not as large as say a 10' surf type rod. This being the case, it can be helpful to fight fish from the bed or roof of your vehicle to keep as much of the line as far from the sandbars as possible. Also, how long is your leader? You could be getting tail whipped...

Total leader length was about 10'. I'm pretty sure it was a sandbar cut because there were a couple spots near the break where the line was "shaved" and curled up.

Also, black swivels, crimps, etc...

I don't do much of the big stuff anymore, but my leaders for smaller rigs (4/0-6/0) were about 15' all 400lb mono with a circle hook and the big rigs were 6-8' of steel and 20' of the heavy mono. Hard to say for sure what caused your break off, but I don't think that a longer leader is a bad idea...

My next leader will be this: Borrowed from texassharkfishing.com

Cover hook with electrical tape?

PLEASE tell me that some fool doesn't think that that will render the electromagnetic field from the hook less detectable by a shark.

Something like that... From the site:

quote:

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Notice the electrical tape on the hook to reduce the magnetic signature of the trace. As mentioned here, the trace demonstrated is a stealth trace. The electric tape tip is from the great sharker Doug in Australia and will significantly increase your pickup rate. Some people claim the tape makes no sense. Try this out. Wrap at 20/0 circle hook with electric tape and bite down on it with your teeth. You will instantly understand why this works. The tape helps remove the magnetic signature, and the clunk of the metal as a shark bites down on a bait.

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Put about 100 yards of 80# big game backing, then add 100-150# Power Pro until the spool is full. Buy a big spool of it, probably 1000 yards or more bc that 9/0 will hold a bunch of braid.

The pickup rate was higher for me when using an all mono leader as opposed to one with steel. Magnetism? Coincidence? I don't know really. Sharks do have that weird ampuli de Lorenzini organ, so...