During an evening walk to watch the sunset, out on the west-end of Oak Island, my wife and I saw a group of young fisherman that had a kayak and were attempting to fish for a shark off the beach.

Oak Island is a cigar-shaped barrier island and the west-end is the confluence of the Atlantic Ocean, the Lockwoods Folly River, and Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.  During the tide changes, the water gets pretty churned up as the ocean flows into and out of the Intracoastal Waterway.

* [GoogleMaps: Oak Island's west-end](https://www.google.com/maps/place/33%C2%B055'05.4%22N+78%C2%B014'12.3%22W/@33.9181576,-78.2388998,752m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d33.918156!4d-78.236765)

I'll try to outline the basic steps for catching a shark off the beach, well, at least how I saw those fisherman doing it:

- Find a really big fish head, one about the size of a human head.

- Dust off your tuna-fishing boat rod and reel and make sure it has fresh line (at least 60-pound test).

- Take a 6-foot long thick metal rod and pound it into the sand about 10 yards above the high water mark.

- Slide a [PVC plastic sand-spike rod-holder](https://www.amazon.com/Eagle-Claw-Spike-Holder-36-Inch/dp/B003ZZCAKU/ref=sr_1_5?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1499565174&sr=1-5&keywords=sand+spike+rod+holder) over the metal spike.  The butt-end of the rod will be inserted into the top of the sand-spike.

- After attaching an [18/0 shark rig,](https://www.amazon.com/Shark-Rig-Cable-Circle-Hook/dp/B00MWF4D6S/ref=sr_1_4?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1499565290&sr=1-4&keywords=shark+hook) thread the massive hook several times through the fish head.

- Since it would be difficult to cast that monstrous fish head any great distance, use the kayak to tow the fish head about 100 yards off shore and drop the fish head into the ocean.

- Now just paddle back to shore, have a beer, and wait for a shark bite.

- After setting the hook, hold on tight and enjoy the ride!

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Truth be told, we didn't see them catch a shark, but they claimed that there are many sharks in the 5 to 7 foot range out in those waters.

However, I did see a 2-foot long sand shark that was flailing in the surf.   Some gentleman picked it up and there was a young kid who was eager to hold it.

All in all, it was a beautiful sunset with some off-shore rain and lightning out in the distance! 


### Follow me @cognoscere

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<center>https://s22.postimg.org/dafv2zi8x/west-end-oak-island-nc-07-05-2017-1.jpg</center>
#### Stop staring at me!

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<center>https://s22.postimg.org/3sl6022w1/west-end-oak-island-nc-07-05-2017-28.jpg</center>
#### You can see the rod holder setup and the two kayakers paddling out with the fish head in tow.


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<center>https://s22.postimg.org/makgn6ech/west-end-oak-island-nc-07-05-2017-2.jpg</center>
#### Sharks are pretty cool looking, especially up close and personal.

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<center>https://s22.postimg.org/5tbpkvz1d/west-end-oak-island-nc-07-05-2017-20.jpg</center>
#### Some off-shore rain, out closer to the next barrier island called [Holden Beach.](http://www.hbtownhall.com/)
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<center>https://s22.postimg.org/klgfc84yp/west-end-oak-island-nc-07-05-2017-21.jpg</center>
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<center>https://s22.postimg.org/3jnla4q3l/west-end-oak-island-nc-07-05-2017-22.jpg</center>
#### My first panorama capture with my [Sony RX100 V.](http://www.sony.com/electronics/cyber-shot-compact-cameras/dsc-rx100m5)
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<center>https://s22.postimg.org/n424cwqox/west-end-oak-island-nc-07-05-2017-25.jpg</center>
#### That was a scary looking cloud formation, and there were several lightening strikes, but the fisherman weren't budging.

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<center>https://s22.postimg.org/ilztktan5/west-end-oak-island-nc-07-05-2017-26.jpg</center>
#### Returning to shore after the fish head drop.

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<center>https://s22.postimg.org/hd6w22cdd/west-end-oak-island-nc-07-05-2017-3.jpg</center>

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<center>https://s22.postimg.org/6b1t3miap/west-end-oak-island-nc-07-05-2017-4.jpg</center>
#### If you look closely, you can see the series of tiny pores behind the sand shark's eyes.  They are called [Lorenzini sense organs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ampullae_of_Lorenzini) which help the shark to detect electric and magnetic fields and also temperature gradients.
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<center>https://s22.postimg.org/a4v9crzmp/west-end-oak-island-nc-07-05-2017-5.jpg</center>

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<center>https://s22.postimg.org/avnzik201/west-end-oak-island-nc-07-05-2017-6.jpg</center>

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<center>https://s22.postimg.org/pt1igolk1/west-end-oak-island-nc-07-05-2017-7.jpg</center>

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<center>https://s22.postimg.org/6hkk3txr5/west-end-oak-island-nc-07-05-2017-8.jpg</center>

<center>https://i.imgsafe.org/0748360454.jpg</center>

All images @cognoscere and taken on Wednesday 07/05/2017 on the beach in [Oak Island, North Carolina](http://www.oakislandnc.com/) ([Sony RX100 V](http://www.sony.com/electronics/cyber-shot-compact-cameras/dsc-rx100m5))

<center>![Steemit_500_Followers_Badge.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmdegLJY4oQ1tH7mCSJQqJUwZ2t6ps77nabRFH4hBNhG6F/Steemit_500_Followers_Badge.png)</center>