For sharks, I used a blood sack that is just a mesh sack full of cut up Bluefish tied up off the bow. Blues bleed like crazy and are great for attracting shark. I drop the sack down about 6-15 feet depending on the depth of the water I used live (Croaker, Blue, Flounder, etc. etc.....on the hook a couple feet away. The shark will take the bait, and it turns into a Nantucket Sleigh Ride after that. I have been towed a mile and a half a few times before I landed the shark according to my GPS. Sounds crazy to most, but it is pretty safe once you know what you are doing with a gaff. I gave it up after the 8 footer made me realize I wasn't a young man anymore, as that creature tore me up and I was sore for almost a week.
Kayaks are one of the best ways to fish in coastal waters, rivers, inlets, creeks, and rivers. They are great for not disturbing the wildlife because they are sound stealthy which makes them great for photography as well. You can get right up on many variety of animals and fish before they spook.
Get a "sit-on-top" from Ocean Kayak, Wilderness, or Hobie. Any model from these 3 are the best available and built like tanks. match yourself to a well made paddle and you are golden. They are much safer than a "sit-inside" and many times more stable. My last kayak was the Wilderness 13' "Ride" model. It was a sea plow and slow, but I could stand on the edge of it and it wouldn't flip, which made it a great shark catching platform.
Go for it. There is no better way to get on the water than a kayak. This is coming from a sailboat and engine propulsion guy.
