NOT too long ago JD RETIRED and started living the life of true south fla sharker. His reputations is legendary going all the back the old south beach pier days with the likes of RENE-- WILLIAM and the rest of the gang that started the legends of big time sharkin that set the stardards for US today.
JD posted he was retired and would shark anywhere-- anytime---i thought about who would be better to go sharKin with and who knew more about this shared passion than the ''WORLD FAMOUS JD HAMMER''-----I called JD a couple of months ago and said i would like go TIGER hunting with him on the dim light of the new moon of oct on the pan handle---
THE 1st thing he said was i know who you are i have seen your reports ''sharkin sonny '' and you do not play around and mean business--I would love to go sharkin---it all started from there---i called him a couple of times to do a little planning and the wheels were set in motion.
I was warned that JD was a FREE SPIRIT --hard to keep up with and all ways on the move---i thought this is going to be great---i pack light and live on the sand for days at a time and as mobile as it gets---COME ON JD --LETS HIT THE PANHANDLE AND FIND THE NEW MOON STRIPED FREIND THAT I KNEW WAS WAITING FOR THE OFFERINGS WE HAD---
THUR night the crew all meet up--JD HAMMER--JD FAGAN-- KIM--MY SON JORDAN AND ME-- we set out bIg baits and settled down and i started probing JD for stories back when the south beach peir was in it's full glory and the south beach boys ruled the sharkin game---some great stories were told-- just the GOOD STUFF I WANTED AND i came for---i am not tring to say JD is an old fart but his stories go way back to the real beginning of sharkin---what a super experince to get hear 1st hand the THE TRUE STORY OF THE WAY IT REALLY WAS---JUST AMAZING how the pier was fished and the laws of sharkers that jd and his bubbies created and lived by
we sharked hard for 3 straight days---one of the rules that i tried i live by is---if we strike out its time to move----
the real story starts on the 3rd night and 3rd location that ended up in pensacola---this was a cold night that most sharkers would have never fished---SAY HARD CORE--OR JD--THE SAME THING--but here we were with big baits out living the sharkers life----living on the beach and loving what nature has to offer---and it was coolish turning to cold as the night rolled on--KIM was freezing but hung on like a real trooper---i said i knew it was going to happen--we just had to wait and be patient--
i fell a sleep in my tentcot ---- getting down to the last few hours of our trip at 2 AM JD 16 penn reel starts clicking off and we all scramble out in the cold windy dark night and help JD in his fight with the DREAM maker on the other end on his 130 lb bullbuster mono line---
JD kept saying he was cold and tired from fighting this shark at 2 am but this was what we were here for---
FINALLY the shark was on the beach and the NEW MOON TIGER WAS IN FRONT OF US----the thrill of the chase and high from landing this stripped beady eyed shark is what the 1000 mile trips from memphis are all about---
i did not go in to all the effort that it took to get to this point -- the ruff conditions we dealt with-- and effort and energy required to move and set up camp 3 times---i guess if it was easy everbody would do it-- but now i get to bask in the true feeling of satisfaction---we did it-- put a plan together ---stuck to it and landed a --TIGER
JD --JD --KIM---THANKS FOR THE FREINDSHIP -- GREAT TIME--AND TRIP---A DREAM COME TRUE FOR ME
Good story and thats some hardcore sharking. 3 days or more with only one shark, moving camps 3 times, and freezing cold temperatures, way to stick it out and get it done.
I agree w/ Carl..sounds like you all worked your @$$es off through rough conditions, Congrats! I love the picture with the shark being taken back into the surf by JD Tiger. Geez, how many of them tigers have you seen on the beach this year Tiger Sharkin' Sonny?
JD has been wanting to fish the panhandle during the winter for at least 15 years. This is the first time he was able to do it. I called on my way to work last Thursday & told him I was jealous as hell, but I was glad he was getting to do something he'd waited on for so many years. Only 4 years, 7 months, JD! I wish my brother-in-law a long, happy, healthy retirement with many more sharking adventures to come! 
Sonny & Jordan, I'm glad that the two of you were able to fish with one of the best!
As always Sonny is right on with his telling of another shark fishing adventure that he as the ambassadour of land-based shark fishing on this and other websites has once again planned and executed.JD Hammer is the culmination of a sport that has seen so many great fishermen come and go in the last 50 years but today in the year 2011, he ALONE is still at it many years after so many have perished or quit this tough sport.Sometimes I think about what makes this man such a legend and the one word that sticks out in my mind is CONSISTENCY,he loves the sport and fishes through ALL types of conditions, ALL seasons, and ALL the ups and downs in his personal life do not stop him ,he moves forward ,does not give up AND ,,,,,HE GOES SHARK FISHING.
Way to stick with the game plan guys Congratulations to all involved .Another wonderful story for the record books.
SOUTH FLORIDA SHARK CLUB -President SFSC-Founding Member est 1983 SFSC-Website Administrator BIG HAMMER SHARK TOURNAMENT -Founder Rene Memorial Sharkathon -Founder NMFS Shark Tagger
Glad you guys were able to make your goal and get a Tiger ..............3 moves in 3 days is not easy but it paid off for you guys.
Congrats to JD on a nice Tiger
Sonny it is time for you to get your Tiger and I have the location already picked out for this upcoming summer
TARPON J--in the past 12 months i have seen 5------bill's last nov---3 in aug trip--joey got 2 and my son hunter got one --and jd's----i m the only one that has not landed one yet---no more nice guy---the next one for ''TEAM REEL FAKE''---is mine---
tigerless sharkin sonny
Sonny you picked the spot, the phase of the moon and the tide. Your caulation of everthing = Tiger. You have to teach me your tricks. Great fishing with you and your son Jordan. Will thanks for the kind words. 
Very nice guys.....I wish could have been there but work called. So sonny next time i will.
Congrats to all of yall for sticking with the plan, it payed off.
congrats jd on another stripe.
JD... that's three tigers this year and no hammers, we might have to change your name 
I just made a really long follow up post on the pictures that were given to me by everybody so check it out everyone. Also on these same days My friends Adam and Dan and myself went to the keys and got some nice fish of our own, will post shortly, includes videos 
Just an average fisherman.
Hardcore!!!! Props to all you guys for sticking to it and making it happen. Hammer congrats on the Tiger!!!! I have only fished with Hammer a few times but he is an absolute classic. Besides the obvious that he's a Great Fisherman, what I have enjoyed when fishing with him and the crew is the Vibe, Passion and flat out ENERGY he brings!!!!! Congrats again to all you guys and gal.
way to get em hammer!!!!!!!!!
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
dam i never posted on this. well it was one long drive and we got a bit frustrated at times, but we made it thear safe and all the way back. and on are journey thear we stoped by to visit jds dad, what i nice guy he was it was a pleasure to meet him. it was one hell of a trip. thear was some pretty extream kayaking that went on down thear, it pushed me harder then ever before . a few of us got hurt but in the end we wear all ok and thats what matterd. we fished veary hard with few hits, but we just kept on fishing. and we finnally got some stripes on the beach. i was veary excited that we got one, it was the first tiger i have ever seen in person. so the trip ended in success. and what a trooper kim was. and i also got to meet/ fish with sharkin sonny and his son, what great guys they wear. thanks for all the help sonny and jordan. i cant forget about the pier fishing, wow, kingfish macks, bonita it was awesome. congrats on that tiger hammer. that was awesome. a trip i will never forget.
Way to go partner
Haha i agree with the title.. you've been puttin a hurtin on the tigers JD!
Colby Uva : Bullbuster Team Captain
https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/107013063084498996341/
SFSC-Tagging/Fishing Science Coordinator