I was invited by a friend to go fishing in the keys. I drove down on Tuesday and went out that morning. We managed to catch this huge hammer early in the day. When I hooked her, it took us 2 minutes to prepare the boat to chase her. In that short period, she took 300yds of line off my reel on a fairly heavy drag. She taped out at 11'6" and was extremely fat! Probably weighed 450-500lbs.
I wanted to get in the water with her
Screenshot from the video:
The same day we caught a few tarpon. Rich's 6 year old son Reed caught this beautiful tarpon:
I also caught one at night, but the leader frayed beside the boat before I could snap a photo.
The next morning we headed out to catch some goliath groupers and permit. I hooked a large permit, but pulled the hook on him. It was unfortunate. After that we managed to pull this massive goliath out of a wreck in 10ft of water!
We tried going after another large shark, but were unsuccessful. We threw the rest of our bait in the water and took off. Just as we were taking off a huge school of jacks came through and starting busting the surface eating the baits.
"He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction" (Proverbs 13:3).
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Those are some big fish! Congrats, great report!
Nice report! I was supposed to go last weekend but I got sold out by my buddies last minute.
Excellent post, now you finally know our love for the keys, it's an environment like no other in the world and we see fish like that down there on many occasions just walking the bridge.
Think of the way that hammer fought and imagine stopping that thing between the two pilings from the bridge and you'll understand the true challenge it takes to be a bridge fisherman!
Every bridge requires different knowledge to get into the fish and sharks and even a little fish fights much tougher in those ripping currents. To add, I've never seen an unhealthy fish in the keys, even sharks that have just pupped out are fatter than sharks in a lot of other places.
Just an average fisherman.
Excellent post, now you finally know our love for the keys, it's an environment like no other in the world and we see fish like that down there on many occasions just walking the bridge.
Think of the way that hammer fought and imagine stopping that thing between the two pilings from the bridge and you'll understand the true challenge it takes to be a bridge fisherman!
Every bridge requires different knowledge to get into the fish and sharks and even a little fish fights much tougher in those ripping currents. To add, I've never seen an unhealthy fish in the keys, even sharks that have just pupped out are fatter than sharks in a lot of other places.
I second all of that Mark! Great report Josh!! I grew up fishing the keys bridges it truly is a challenge fishing those bridges, but the rewards are worth it!
Sweet report! Such a variety and abundance of truly big fish down there. It's a fishing heaven like no other. Can't wait to make it down for a dedicated bridge shark trip one day.
that was a big boy.....Congrats partner
What an aswesome trip. Got a little bit of the best of everything!! Nice work.
damn nice one josh
Thats a nice hammer man congrats, I have a vacation planned and thats were I am going next week Long Key Bridge on a boat to see if I can get another one like last year again congrats and that nice fish
Will
CONGRATULATIONS JOSH!!!Long Key Bridge and it's surrounding waters which are loaded with Tarpon this time of the year produced a Hammerhead over thirteen feet last year also caught from boat by big Will J Fundora. Now in early April OF 2013 AGAIN the Legendary Home of MONSTER HAMMERS gives up another feisty monster for Josh Jorgesen a fat 11 foot 6 inch Hammer.
BIGGEST SHARK OF THE YEAR 11 FT 6 INCH-JOSH JORGESEN
BIGGEST HAMMERHEAD OF THE YEAR 11 FT 6 INCH-JOSH JORGENSEN
by Josh Jorgenson
I was invited by a friend to go fishing in the keys. I drove down on Tuesday and went out that morning. We managed to catch this huge hammer early in the day. When I hooked her, it took us 2 minutes to prepare the boat to chase her. In that short period, she took 300yds of line off my reel on a fairly heavy drag. She taped out at 11'6" and was extremely fat! Probably weighed 450-500lbs.
I wanted to get in the water with her
Screenshot from the video:
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
No Questions About It A SERIOUS HAMMERHEAD... I Cant Remember How Many Times With Rene & Shannon We Would Hook A SUPER SIZER Hammer & Get Striped. They Definitely Got Them Big On That Bridge WAY TO GO 
awesome fish!!!! that would be on hell of a trip, congrats!!!!
WAY TO GO PARTNER. THAT'S A MONSTER.
great report josh, theres people who fish a lifetime and havent accomplish what u guys did in one day
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