Catching Memories Since 2017

There’s one rule in shark fishing that beats all the others – trace length.

If you’re serious about hooking big sharks, your leader needs to be long enough to do its job.

Rig length should be at least as long as the shark you’re chasing – and preferably longer.

When a shark hits the bait it rolls, twists, and goes absolutely nuts in the surf. If the trace is too short, all those sharp teeth have a straight path to your mainline – and that’s game over.

A proper long stainless steel leader keeps the dangerous business end well clear of your line, protects you from bite-offs, and lets you drag a shark through heavy Aussie surf with confidence instead of luck.

That same length consideration also determines whether a shark rig can be cast or needs to be deployed.

The difference between castable and non-castable shark rigs isn’t mechanical — it’s practical.

Castable shark rigs are typically around 1–2 metres long, which allows them to be cast safely and repeatedly. Non-castable shark rigs are usually longer and built from heavier materials, as they’re intended for larger sharks and situations where casting isn’t practical or safe.

Because of their length and heavier construction, non-castable rigs are deployed rather than cast — commonly using a drone, paddling the rig out, or placing it beyond the breakers at low tide.

While the purpose is the same, non-castable rigs are scaled up to handle bigger sharks, heavier loads, and longer fights.
 

Hooking a shark from the beach is hard, brutal fishing – plain and simple. Once they’re on, they don’t glide in nicely. They roll in the waves, twist in every direction, and grind the leader over anything in their path.

That’s why our traces are built long and tough. A longer section of wire isn’t optional with sharks – it’s your insurance policy. All that rough skin and rocky shoreline punishment gets taken by the heavy leader instead of your mainline.

A proper stainless steel trace protects the line when you’re dragging a big shark through the surf, keeps you clear of sudden cut-offs, and gives you the control you need to finish the fight.

Hooking a shark is one thing. Making the hook stay put and set properly is another.

Most of our stainless steel shark rigs use a simple loop connection at the hook for a reason – it lets the circle hook do what it’s designed to do.

Instead of being locked stiff to the leader, the hook can move and rotate freely when a shark eats and runs off with the bait.

Because of that freedom of movement:

• the hook can turn and find the corner of the jaw
• hook-ups are cleaner and far more reliable 
• the rig stays working instead of fouling up
   

With bigger sharks, that little loop connection makes a big difference. It gives the hook room to rotate, grab hold and stay connected – and that means more consistent hook-ups for Aussie shark fishos.

All of our crimps are secured using a mechanical crimping machine for maximum holding power. Machine-crimped connections give consistent, repeatable pressure and eliminate the weak points that can occur with hand-crimping.

When targeting larger sharks, connection strength becomes absolutely critical. Heavier leaders and bigger hooks put extreme load on the terminal end, and single crimps can potentially slip during long, powerful fights.

For that reason, when chasing bigger Australian sharks, connections should always be double crimped.

Twin crimps lock the leader material solid, stop any chance of slippage, and ensure the rig stays connected no matter how hard the fish pulls.

That extra level of security removes guesswork and keeps you confident on the water.

 Want a deeper breakdown on why crimps fail, how sizing matters, and how corrosion affects wire rigs? Our Crimps Explained Guide covers crimp materials, sizing, compression methods, and the real reasons wire rigs slip or fail under load. 

Sharks are hardest on gear right where they grab the bait.

That’s why many of our heavy duty Wiggle ya Worm shark rigs include a purpose-built section of twisted stainless leader at the hook end. This twisted zone is roughly 400mm long and forms a reinforced working area for the toughest part of shark fishing.

By twisting the leader material, we create two tight strands of wire protection directly in front of the hook. That simple modification greatly improves resistance to abrasion from rough skin and removes the chance of easy bite-offs from big Australian sharks.

This “twisted bite zone” delivers:

✔ double the protection at the toothy end
✔ extra confidence with large sharks
✔ increased durability on rocky shorelines and heavy surf
✔ a neat, compact leader that stays castable

It’s one of those small details that makes a big difference when you’re chasing serious fish in real Aussie conditions.

Shark fishing is a waiting game, and scent is what stacks the odds in your favour.

Using the right bait makes all the difference when you’re trying to pull sharks in close enough to eat.

Across Australia, proven shark baits include:

• freshwater or saltwater eels
• oily fish baits
• flesh baits
• stingray wings
• tailor fillets
• whole mullet or bonito
   

The common thread is simple – tough, oily, scent-rich baits put a stronger trail in the water and hold up better when you cast and soak them for sharks.

Match a big, robust bait with a neat stainless steel leader, and you give Aussie sharks something they can find easily and chew on confidently.

instead of confusing you with endless combinations, we keep the system simple, logical and proven – so y can fish with confidence rather than guesswork.

There are plenty of shark rigs on the market, but not all are built the same.

We tie our rigs in Queensland using straightforward, time-tested Australian designs that are easy to use and hard to break. Every variation we make is grouped together so visitors can quickly explore the full range and match the right rig to the sharks and conditions they’re fishing.

Instead of confusing you with endless combinations, we keep the system simple, logical and proven – so you can fish with confidence rather than guesswork.

View the full Shark Fishing Rigs range here:

When you’re dealing with sharks, safety and strength matter just as much as the rig.

A serious Australian shark fishing system needs a proper, dependable dehooker. That’s why our solid stainless steel shark dehooking tool is hand built in Queensland and engineered to last. It allows fast, controlled hook removal at a safe distance, helping protect both fish and fisho during every release.

 Learn correct hook removal technique in our Safe Shark Release Guide 

Made from solid marine grade stainless steel with simple, rugged construction, this dehooker is designed for years of tough Australian use without bending, rusting, or letting you down.

Find out more about the dehooker here:

Shark fishing gear has to work in the real world, not just look good in a packet.

Every shark rig we produce follows a clear Australian fisho logic:

• longer traces stop bite-offs
• stainless steel wire handles sharp teeth
• free-moving circle hooks hook more sharks
• double crimps prevent slippage
• twisted bite zones add double protection where it matters most
   

Those principles keep the system simple, strong, and totally reliable when you’re chasing Aussie sharks from harsh shorelines and heavy surf.

Understand what works, use proven gear, and you fish with confidence instead of gambling on your setup.

 Not sure if this rig suits your conditions? Start with the Australian Fishing Rig Decision Guide → 

We hope this guide helps Aussie fishos understand the basics of shark rigs and choose the right tools for Australian conditions.