Advice for Leopard Sharks

My wife got to eat some Leopard Shark last weekend and she liked it more than any fresh water fish I've caught. So now it is on my target list. I know where I want to try fishing, I'm just not sure about the technique of catching one on a yak. Any tips on how to safely handle a keeper Leopard Shark on a kayak?

I've caught quite a few,  one caution though they tend to be high in mercury, can be really high depending on where you catch'em.  Yes they are good but I don't eat them anymore.

Fish on the anchor, I've tried lots of baits and find squid to be as good as anything and stays on the hook.

If you're comfortable in your yak, I've caught them to over 5 ft, and they really aren't that hard to handle.  Be aware the skin is like sand paper and can do some damage to yours, not a big deal but can leave a rash. Do Not net them, they tend to spin and will wind themselves up in a net then go rigid and is a real pain to get them out, I was told this, didn't think it would be that bad so I tried it ONCE. No gaff needed either, they're pretty easy to deal with, just be aware they are pretty active and heavy. But they don't have anythign sharp on them like spines or bony plates, also they really don't have much in the line of teeth, more like a big catfish, safer than a ling, if you should happen to catch a 7 gill though, be careful they have a mouth full of razor sharp teeth.

If you want to keep and eat, kill them immediately by bleeding, It was suggested to me to cut deep just behind the anal opening cross ways.  There's an artery there.

Good luck.

I think the Sturgeon snare should work well to land the shark from kayak.

They are fun to catch.  But I would not eat them anymore.  There are advisory warnings in places where people fish not to eat more than a certain amount a month.  There are several studies concerning the fish in the bay. Not worth the risk in my opinion.

Sounds like it is doable. Seems that the recommended limit is one serving per week. I guess it doesn't matter as much for us old people. 

I've caught several leopard sharks up to about 36 inches while halibut fishing around Morro Bay. I just lifted them up by the tail.

It's true that they aren't particularly toothy, but I did have an agro leopard bite my jacket and put a good hole in it one time... I imagine that would have hurt pretty bad if it got my skin.

I have tried gaffing them, they roll right off the gaff hook! Netting is bad like said, easiest is to grab their tail. One of my favorite spots is in Tiburon at Blackies Pasture, either from yak or shore. Either way, you can only fish high tide, it is a huge mud flat. I would be more concerned about the batrays you are going to catch while fishing for leopards. Their tail is no joke, just have pliers ready to yank out the hook if you get one. You will need pliers for the shark too. They are a blast to catch, have fun!

I catch them incidentally targeting stripers or halis and let them all go, threshers and soupfins too. Too much mercury and other heavy metals and OK table fare but not great. They are at the bottom of the big game target species for a reason. Killing sharks is bad karma. Even the Hawaiians knew that.Just my 2 cents.

Thanks for the tips.