How to catch Bonnethead
Sphyrna tiburo (Linnaeus, 1758)
About Bonnethead fishing
The bonnethead is a small coastal shark belonging to the family Sphyrnidae, immediately recognised by its smooth, spade-shaped head with the smallest cephalofoil of any hammerhead species. It features an elongated grey-brown body that fades to a lighter underside, reaching a common length of 80 cm and a maximum length of 150 cm. Distributed widely across warm littoral waters, it inhabits shallow estuaries, bays, and mangrove areas over soft mud, sandy expanses, and seagrass beds down to 80 metres. This active species moves in small groups, exhibiting a diel rhythm where it forages on shallow grass flats at night and retreats to deeper waters by day. It feeds primarily on benthic crustaceans such as blue crabs, molluscs, and small fish, and is uniquely known to digest plant matter like seagrass. Viviparous and non-territorial, it provides an energetic sport-fishing target for anglers using light tackle in shallow coastal zones.
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Difficulty
Medium
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Average size
80 cm TL
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Market value
High
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Habitat
Brackish, Saltwater
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Season
Spring, Summer, Autumn
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Also known as
Bonnet hammerhead, Bonnet shark, Bonnethead shark, Bonnetnose shark, Shovelhead
Semicircular head shape
Front of head is rounded and semicircular, unlike other hammerhead sharks.
Bonnethead fishing facts
Characteristics
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Typical size
80 cm TL (max 150 cm TL ) -
Typical weight
1.5 kg (max 10.8 kg ) -
Preferred temperature
21.8–28 °C -
Depth
10–80 m -
Longevity
12 years -
Body shape
Elongated -
Commercial?
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Vulnerability score
56.9
Best hours
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Peak
Dawn
First light
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Peak
Morning
After sunrise
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Low
Midday
High sun
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Active
Afternoon
Late day
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Peak
Dusk
Last light
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Active
Night
After dark
When to fish for Bonnethead
How to catch Bonnethead
Tips for catching Bonnethead
Succeeding with inshore sharks requires targeting shallow grass flats, sandbars, and tidal creeks where individuals cruise during warm months. Because these fish hunt by scanning the sediment for crustaceans, presentations that mimic small scurrying crabs or fleeing shrimp near the bottom yield the best results. Look for dorsal fins breaking the surface during calm periods and cast ahead of moving groups, allowing the presentation to settle before giving subtle twitches. Early morning and late afternoon provide optimal activity windows when individuals move onto shallow flats to feed. Use light spinning gear or fly rods combined with fluorocarbon or light wire leaders to handle energetic runs without spooking fish in clear water.
Other names for Bonnethead
Local and alternate names anglers use for Bonnethead.
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Bonnetnose shark
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Shovelhead
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Bonnethead shark
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Bonnethead
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Bonnet shark
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Bonnet hammerhead
Best equipment to catch Bonnethead
Compare fishing methods for Bonnethead — sized kit for each technique.
Note: Typical fish is 1.5 kg Our algorithm will suggest the best equipment for you based on this weight.
Bottom Fishing
Presenting bait or rigs on or near the lake or sea floor.
85% Effectiveness
Rod
Spinning rod
A spinning rod is a fishing rod built to carry a spinning reel under the blank. You cast lures and light baits with it from shore or a boat.
Sized for a typical fish
medium · 2.13 m
- Reel seat
- Spinning
- Form factor
- Multi-piece
- Action
- Fast
- Grip
- EVA
Reel
Spinning reel
A spinning reel hangs under the fishing rod and is the default reel for casting lures and light baits. Line peels off an open spool with a bail.
Sized for a typical fish
1000 · 3 kg drag · 185 g
- Spool
- Fixed
- Mount
- Under
- Drag
- Front
- Retrieve
- Manual
Line
Monofilament line
Monofilament fishing line is the everyday main line: easy to knot, cheap to replace, and stretchy enough to forgive a hard strike.
Sized for a typical fish
5.5 kg · 0.25 mm
- Visibility
- Medium
- Abrasion
- Medium
- Stretch
- High
- Sink rate
- Slow
Leader
Fluorocarbon leader
A fluorocarbon leader is the clear, fast-sinking join between a visible main line and the lure or hook.
Sized for a typical fish
5.5 kg · 0.25 mm · 80 cm
- Visibility
- Very low
- Abrasion
- High
- Stretch
- Low
- Sink rate
- Fast
Hook
Circle hook
A circle hook turns in the mouth and usually finds the corner of the jaw. You do not strike hard — you come tight. It includes freshwater.
Sized for a typical fish
2
- Points
- 1
- Offset
- No
- Barbed
- Yes
- Gap
- Standard
Fly Fishing
Presenting artificial flies with a fly rod and weighted line.
80% Effectiveness
Rod
Fly rod
A fly rod is a fishing rod sized by line weight, with a fly reel seat. The fly line, not a heavy lure, loads the blank.
Sized for a typical fish
2.74 m · 5wt
- Reel seat
- Fly
- Form factor
- Multi-piece
- Action
- Moderate-fast
- Grip
- Cork
Reel
Fly reel
A fly reel is a large-arbor drum that stores backing and fly line. Drag is a disc; the reel does not cast the fly.
Sized for a typical fish
4 kg drag · 5wt
- Spool
- Drum
- Mount
- Under
- Drag
- Disc
- Retrieve
- Manual
Line
Fly line
Fly line is the weighted shooting line that carries a near-weightless fly. Match it by weight class to the fly rod, not by kilo rating.
Sized for a typical fish
5wt
- Visibility
- Medium
- Abrasion
- Medium
- Stretch
- Low
- Sink rate
- Slow
Leader
Tippet
Tippet is the fine, replaceable end of a fly leader, sized in X so you can match the fly and the fish.
Sized for a typical fish
2.8 kg · 0.18 mm · 80 cm · 4X
- Visibility
- Medium
- Abrasion
- Medium
- Stretch
- Medium
- Sink rate
- Slow
Spinning
Casting and retrieving lures with a spinning rod and reel.
75% Effectiveness
Rod
Spinning rod
A spinning rod is a fishing rod built to carry a spinning reel under the blank. You cast lures and light baits with it from shore or a boat.
Sized for a typical fish
medium · 2.13 m
- Reel seat
- Spinning
- Form factor
- Multi-piece
- Action
- Fast
- Grip
- EVA
Reel
Spinning reel
A spinning reel hangs under the fishing rod and is the default reel for casting lures and light baits. Line peels off an open spool with a bail.
Sized for a typical fish
1000 · 3 kg drag · 185 g
- Spool
- Fixed
- Mount
- Under
- Drag
- Front
- Retrieve
- Manual
Line
Braided line
Braided fishing line is the thin, no-stretch main for long casts, jigging, and feeling every tick on the retrieve.
Sized for a typical fish
6 kg · 0.1 mm
- Visibility
- High
- Abrasion
- Low
- Stretch
- None
- Sink rate
- Floats
Leader
Fluorocarbon leader
A fluorocarbon leader is the clear, fast-sinking join between a visible main line and the lure or hook.
Sized for a typical fish
7 kg · 0.3 mm · 90 cm
- Visibility
- Very low
- Abrasion
- High
- Stretch
- Low
- Sink rate
- Fast
Surfcasting
Long-range bait or lure casting from an open beach or surf.
70% Effectiveness
Rod
Surfcasting rod
A surfcasting rod is the long beach fishing rod for punching bait past the breakers. Length and a moderate-fast action load for distance.
Sized for a typical fish
medium-heavy · 3.6 m
- Reel seat
- Spinning
- Form factor
- Multi-piece
- Action
- Moderate-fast
- Grip
- EVA
Reel
Spinning reel
A spinning reel hangs under the fishing rod and is the default reel for casting lures and light baits. Line peels off an open spool with a bail.
Sized for a typical fish
1000 · 3 kg drag · 185 g
- Spool
- Fixed
- Mount
- Under
- Drag
- Front
- Retrieve
- Manual
Line
Braided line
Braided fishing line is the thin, no-stretch main for long casts, jigging, and feeling every tick on the retrieve.
Sized for a typical fish
6 kg · 0.1 mm
- Visibility
- High
- Abrasion
- Low
- Stretch
- None
- Sink rate
- Floats
Leader
Shock leader
A shock leader is a thick mono or tapered section that takes the cast. Carp shock is heavy (around 0.65 to 0.75 mm), not thin fluorocarbon.
Sized for a typical fish
22.5 kg · 0.65 mm · 900 cm
- Visibility
- Medium
- Abrasion
- High
- Stretch
- High
- Sink rate
- Slow
Best lures and baits for Bonnethead
Ranked lures and natural baits from every method, best first.
01
Crab
- Bottom Fishing
- Surfcasting
Hard upper shell protects the crab and anchors its vital organs.
02
Shrimp
- Bottom Fishing
- Surfcasting
Translucent segmented carapace protects the body.
03
Squid
- Bottom Fishing
Elongated muscular body holds internal organs and secretes scent in the water.
05
Fly popper
- Fly Fishing
A cupped-head fly for surface pops on a fly rod.
06
Soft jerkbait
- Spinning
A soft baitfish you twitch and kill like a jerkbait.
Diet and behavior of Bonnethead
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Diet
Carnivore -
Feeds by
Hunts animals -
Hunts
Dawn · Morning · Dusk -
Feeds over
Soft bottom · Seagrass · Coral reefs · Mangroves -
Main prey
Baitfish · Bottom prey
Prey and predators of Bonnethead
Prey is what Bonnethead eats. Predators are the animals that eat it.
That is how it feeds, and how it is hunted.
Prey
What it eats
Where Bonnethead lives
Tied to reefs and rocky structure in shallow coastal water.
10–80 m
Estuary
Where this species lives
Bonnethead photos for identification
Compare these photos with the catalog plate to identify the species.