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My first/biggest Hammerhead... 14ft 2inches

slasherx4 · 2012-02-05T23:16:59Z

I wasn't thinking of it at the time but this hammerhead was the SUPERBOWL SUNDAY SHARK. I even got yelled at by some friends for not watching the game but it was the least of the thoughts on my mind. I heard from some inside sources that some bull sharks have been around locally... I called up Dan aka Blacktip aka the British guy, we knew it was SUPERBOWL Sunday and figured less people would be around to mess with us. So I looked at the tide charts and planned it out so we headed out with some baits to fish one spot where we met up with Tony aka seawolf and Joe aka sandtiger... joe's 16/0 got picked up by a small bull shark, he set the hook and fought it for a while but the line popped for some reason. That spot had some wake-boarders and jetskiiers so we got tired of it. We left to hit up a marina to check for some baits where we got a kingfish head and a almaco jack carcass. Then we bought some snacks and headed off to spot 2. We deployed baits a short drop with massive rocks but the current was still too strong and our baits swept to the side and into the flats where there was less current. We sat around for about an hour or 2 figuring there were no fish around... the seaweed had my bait floating on the surface and all of the sudden Dan yells look and I turn around and something had bashed the surface a ways out near our baits... simultaneously my rod screams, i pick it up and put it in freespool, give it 20 seconds and did the running man (I only had a kingfish head) , the fish was there and I had my drag set at about 55-65lbs and it started burning me steady but fast as hell, i sat down and tightened up a little more but there was no stopping it. She burned 400 yards then slowed down a little, I figured it was a big bull shark considering the area so I put my hands on the spool to put additional drag and stopped him, it turned and swam in fast and I gained a lot of line but it dumped me back out to the same spot. I needed Dan's assistance strapping in to a waist harness for support. I couldn't gain line power winching so I got up, held the spool, and walked way up the beach and ran back gaining line and did this 2 or 3 times. The shark was getting too close to a curve on the beach so we went back towards it and got the line in a better position and from there it was 100 yards away, I still thought it was a bull shark but then it surfaced and all I saw was a yellowish color so I thought it was a lemon... it surfaced once more and I thought it was a bull. It wasn't until it was 50 yards in the giant sickle fin verified what it was. When it got close I dropped my rod and rushed towards the swivel figuring it was my first hammer I didn't want to lose it.OMG what a fish! We had it beached within an hour of hooking it. The fish weighed too much her girth was huge. Just the 2 of us wasn't enough to get it out of the water. We snapped some pictures with our dying camera, measured it at 170 inches and spent the next hour walking back and forth with HER reviving her did about 10 laps along the beach, we ran into 3 or 4 rays in the process and it came close to biting me when it swung around a few times. But it swam off slow and steady and I was satisfied with the release. She taped out at 14ft 2inches and an estimated girth of 65-75inches which gives it an estimated weight of 800-1000lbs. Thanks a lot for the help Dan and for the support from everyone on here, I'm glad I got that one and even more satisfied that she swam off. I have been really chasing sharks after 2008 when I got my first shark (a 7.5ft spinner) and for some reason I had a 2 year dry run with no sharks landed, then in 2011 I got a 10ft tiger early in the year and an 8.5ft bull and some other very very nice land based catches, this year I wasn't able to make any successful trips until February 5th when I got this shark. I try to show my support for land based shark fishing in all nooks and crannies of the world and I am a catch and release shark fisherman because I hope that one day I'll be able to go out and catch my sharks again.

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sharkinmiami

(@sharkinmiami)

Prominent Member

Damn thats a monster! Congrats man! We have lost some big fish there... several of which I'm pretty sure were big T-heads... I hope none of the ones we lost were that monsterous! BTW be careful fishing there its private property and the security gaurds take it pretty seriously.

Colby Uva : Bullbuster Team Captain
Buy Fishing Line Online and get half off retail prices at Bullbuster.net!
https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/107013063084498996341/

SFSC-Tagging/Fishing Science Coordinator

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Posted : 02/06/2012 11:48 am

stellarol

(@stellarol)

New Member

Hell yeah, way to go Mark! Are you in the triple crown?

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Posted : 02/06/2012 12:10 pm

bruiser08

(@bruiser08)

New Member

Was this an east coast fish??

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Posted : 02/06/2012 12:29 pm

CATCHINJIANTS (cj)

(@catchinjiants-cj)

New Member

My GOD! Thats a HAMMER all right. Congrats! you are the MAN!

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Posted : 02/06/2012 2:05 pm

mattwho

(@mattwho)

New Member

wow monster hammer! i hope u got a length pic so u can have the LB record

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Posted : 02/06/2012 2:40 pm

slasherx4

(@slasherx4)

Noble Member

congratulations, way to start off the year. i have some good feelings for 2012 between this monster and both jds getting smoked at the same time, somethings up and its not even spring. im not gonna be able to fall asleep tonight im too pumped!!

Thanks man, after being dumped in that same area JD and JD did I kind of doubted my 12/0 but I guess it worked, thanks.

Just an average fisherman.

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Topic starter Posted : 02/06/2012 4:10 pm

slasherx4

(@slasherx4)

Noble Member

Mark - I've been researching sharks this size and their weight to length ratio. I think we can safely say that this fish easily broke the 1000lb barrier. Without an accurate girth measurement we'll never know for sure, but I was there, I saw the girth of that fish and I know how big it was. You caught yourself the fish of a lifetime there and I'm glad I was there to share it with you.

I'm guessing 800-1000, I've never estimated a fish like this but maybe your right. Thanks for making the trip with me, I'm glad we got to let that thing go.

Just an average fisherman.

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Topic starter Posted : 02/06/2012 4:13 pm

slasherx4

(@slasherx4)

Noble Member

Historic year for Land-based shark fishing and it starts right here with this catch, I've been predicting this for some time and it could'nt of happened to a nicer young man than Mark Resto one of Jd Hammer's best desciples.Mark savor the moment and enjoy it you have CAUGHT A MONSTER SHARK..........CONGRTAULATIONS!!

THE BACK OF THE SHIRT TELLS THE STORY AND OF OUR DREAMS AND ON THIS DAY THE SHARK GODS SAW THE SHIRT AND DEEMED THIS FINE YOUNG MAN WORTHY OF THIS CREATURE,,,,,,,LEGENDARY CATCH

Thanks Will, you couldn't have wrote it any better, the shirt does make the picture. It was something else.

Just an average fisherman.

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Topic starter Posted : 02/06/2012 4:22 pm

slasherx4

(@slasherx4)

Noble Member

MARK----sit back--take a deep breath----let it sink in----and realize what you have done-----that could be once in a life time shark---

SFSC is proud of you----William is like a proud father texting letting everyone know of the true monster and dream of a life time you beached

sharkin sonny

You are right sonny thanks.

Just an average fisherman.

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Topic starter Posted : 02/06/2012 4:30 pm

slasherx4

(@slasherx4)

Noble Member

Wow! Awesome fish Mark! Way to go buddy! Send me all the original photos and I will try and touch them up the best I can, joshjorgensen@blacktipchallenge.com

Thanks, will do, I'll have Dan send you the original pics.

Just an average fisherman.

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Topic starter Posted : 02/06/2012 4:39 pm

slasherx4

(@slasherx4)

Noble Member

holy crap mark!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! u did it bro u caught the biggest shark in club history. congrats bro

Hey, thanks ray, you always have the charisma and motivation, you haven't doubted me once, thanks again.

Just an average fisherman.

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Topic starter Posted : 02/06/2012 4:41 pm

slasherx4

(@slasherx4)

Noble Member

Yeah, where do you go from here?? Incredible catch!!!! You get that on a 12/0 and 130#?

To Doug and you, I think I'd prefer to catch some new species that I can get good pictures of, when I fish I only fish to catch something new and experience the way that they fight. Next shark on my list is a sandbar or something else I have never caught. And yes the orange 12/0 has pulled through once again this time instead of being dumped clean I stopped her on the 125lb bullbuster, the extreme pressure and seaweed and flats did cause some minor abrasions on my line but I got the job done with my trusty bimini twist.

I hope you and Doug continue to post your awesome reports, I get some inspiration from you guys from time to time.

Just an average fisherman.

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Topic starter Posted : 02/06/2012 5:04 pm

bonifiedbonnet11

(@bonifiedbonnet11)

New Member

You got a lot of fucking nerve mark. You know that is our spot. we have fished there for years and your not even from this area. you took from out bait guy and you fished our exact spot. its one thing to fish the area but our exact spot! come on man. colby takes you fishing and basically GIVES you gear when you need it. and you going to go ahead and abuse that by taking our spots. thats some bullshit. dont pull that stunt again.
Zack

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Posted : 02/06/2012 5:04 pm

slasherx4

(@slasherx4)

Noble Member

Nice hammer bro espically for your first

Thanks, that's what I was thinking.

Just an average fisherman.

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Topic starter Posted : 02/06/2012 5:05 pm

slasherx4

(@slasherx4)

Noble Member

Mark what a monster Hammer. Did you get that on the pumpkin?
great team work guys, I'm glad to hear she swam off without taking body parts with her.

I sure did Jimmy, my fruity fruity set up as you call it, I'm glad she didn't take my arms. She was nice. Thanks.

Just an average fisherman.

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Topic starter Posted : 02/06/2012 5:11 pm

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