Blacktips are heading North! (I think?....)
REWIND-Started from the bottom! (Feb 16, 2013)
And now I'm Here! (March 28, 2013) For reference I'm 5'11 175lbs
Got out to the beach (near New Smyrna) around 8:30am with high tide being just after 9am. My buddy got a bluefish around 10ish which I cut and used for bait.
Not 30min into it, I was readjusting my finger tape so I don't slice my finger on the braid and I see my rod bow, then all of a sudden it starts screaming, I run over and try to tighten the drag and begin to set the hook. IT WAS ON! The next 20min or so I was fighting that fish like no other!
I have only recently began surf fishing for whiting to pompano etc, and became focused on catching a shark which I did in the first pic back in Feb. And after that I focused even more, getting 2 surf rods( 10' & 11' Penn Prevail), and 2 reels(Penn Fierce 6000 & Penn Battle 7000) to handle the pressure.
That fish whooped me! It made a few decent runs and I just let it eat the drag and finally I was able to get it close enough to almost get it beached, but there was a big lip right at the water line. I was able to work with the waves and get her up onto the beach and my buddy grabbed the tail and pulled her up.
I then proceeded to dehook, but waves were crashing in, and needed to drag her up a bit more to get away from the waves. At this point I'm completely exhausted and wanted to get the hook out and back into the water. She had a tag, but I did not mess with it as I was focused on getting her back into the water. Got a few pics, hook out, and released back into the water.
What A RUSH! I dragged her down back into the water as she turned to the side and even got pushed up by a wave, but pushed her out once again and swam off to live another day! As soon as she swam away, i sat down on the beach right there to catch my breath. Sorry for the novel here, but being my first shark of size, I am beyond thrilled! All in all was a great experience and I can't wait to do it again!
Money shot! (Y'all have taught me well! LOL)
Glad to be apart of the community here and happy fishing!
WAY TO GO PARTNER, KEEP THE POST COMING. NICE TIPPER FOR A SPINNING ROD. 
That's a big boy, my first shark ever was a monster spinner on the West Coast. The shark always comes first but those tagged sharks are awfully rare and there is a reward for reporting them. I think it's $25 and a T-Shirt or something.
I believe there is more than one school of sharks in the great migration and although most head south, a few do end up going north, that is, until the switch where they all go back to where they came from; the spring and fall run.
Just an average fisherman.
I Actually Like The Little Tipper...Thats COOL 
Way to go! My first shark of size was a tipper though there wasn't much of a fight since I was fishing with a 16/0. Wait until you hook into your first hammer. There is nothing like having all your line ripped off when your reel is at max drag. Once you get it on the beach the feeling is amazing. Anybody who says fishing isn't a sport has never caught a hammer, it is quite a workout. But it's worth it, the feeling of catching one is immensely exhilarating. Just make sure you and your gear are prepared for the long haul.
Sweet work!!! Nice report! Keep em coming!
Thx for the kind words everyone! I learned all I have from you all and this forum. There is a wealth of knowledge here that is quite amazing! I will be looking into the tagging program.
To add, I caught this on my Battle 7000 with 500yds of 40lb braid, using a rig I made myself. I am very surprised looking back at the pics that the rig held up so well. I had a 12/0 hook crimped to 135lb malin cable wire about 8" long, crimped to a swivel with a clip for weight, crimped to 80lb shock leader about ~ 2' long, crimped to a swivel and tied to my main line.
This was also casted out from shore. I look forward to catching more sharks and adding to the community! Thanks again everyone!!
Great catch on that reel!
Nice catch
DIRTY SOUTH SHARK HUNTERS
2012 1st place BLACKTIP CHALLENGE
2011 NO LIMIT TOURNAMENT CHAMPION 2nd year in a row
2010 BHC biggest hammerhead shark on 80 lb test
2010 NO LIMIT TOURNAMENT CHAMPION
2010 BHC 3rd and 5th place biggest shark
2010 april sharker of the month
2009-2010 Rookie of the year
Congratulations on a very nice catch!