Official 2009 Big Hammer Challenge-Reports,Pics-Leaderboard

Well folks the tounament is a over and all we have left to do is to hand out the prizes today.Some reflections on the state of things tournament related.Running this tournament requires alot of thought ,hard work and tough skin to be able to put up with anglers that no matter what is done we can never fully satisfy.Last year we had a smooth tournament from start to finish and it was great.This year the earth is off balance, tilted on it's axis, I don't know maybe it's an early version of the swine flu unknowingly affecting Florida's shark fisherman.I ask myself why i continue to take on this tremendously stressful event every April for 30 days and the answer goes back to my original idea for starting THE BIG HAMMER CHALLENGE in the first place.To challenge Florida's shark fisherman to catch the biggest, baddest,hardest fighting shark on the face of the planet "The Hammerhead shark."When I first started the tournament I did not anticipate the difficulties that would come with this event.In hindsight i don't know that had i fully understood the complexity of holding a statewide tournament that i would do it all again.If I had a better idea that hammerhead sharks very often fight to the death I would of had DIFFERENT RULES to address the problem and ease the stress on myself.The barrage of problems resulting from hammerheads dying has made it difficult for me to keep focused on the positive side of this tournament.I often ask myself "is it worth it?"only time will tell if you the fisherman enjoy this tournament enough to request it every April.Without the right help i probably won't do it again.This year I put myself in a very difficult situation in order to maintain a smooth running tournament and it backfired and blew up in my face and maybe i need intense plastic surgery to repair the wounds caused by so much criticism, but I'm a big boy and used to dealing with big problems.The worst of it is the fact that my intregity has been questioned.Those that know me well know that i have a bad temper,a big heart but am a stand up guy.If the Rules had been correctly restructured this year and made more clear i could of avoided alot of grief.No answer i can give will fully satisfy everyone.Know that i have held this tournament and done it with gusto and alot of heart without any gains but only personal satisfaction of having given of myself.Again for those of you that feel that i have wronged you my sincere apologies.

Will, you're the best. I know the tournament requires a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and money on your end. It is truly in the spirit of the original South Beach Shark Club that you have continued to show your love for the sport through all you have done and will continue to do. Kudos to you & a special congratulations to all the tournament winners, especially Shannon. Shannon, I know your Dad is smiling in heaven now! Long live South Florida Shark Club!!!

Today reafirmed my committment to this sport and it's hard core anglers.it was a beatiful day ,,,,,the largest turnout ever ,,,,the most feeling of commaraderie was present among all who attended.Despite our differences today was a good day and I know that we are on the right track doing what no other organization or club is doing-- bringing together Florida's and the world's best LAND BASED SHARK FISHERMAN for a solid month of intense competition.Hands down these are the top dogs in the sport .STUDY WHAT THEY DO AND YOU WILL SEE A TEAM DRIVEN TO SUCCEED!!You will see teams that are driven,organized and completely focused on one thing taking VICTORY and making there's. We are convinced after talking and sharing fish stories that this is the hardest working bunch of shore sharkers in the entire world .Check the record books and see what other teams put these kinds of numbers of sharks on any given month of the year from shore.No one in the entire globe.

The names are becoming synonymous with the world of top drawer land based shark fishing,,,,,,,Chris,Troy,JD,Shannon,Pete,Mark and many others that are defining the best in the sport and bending the evolution of the sport to the next plain.UNTOUCHABLE!!!Watch these guys and track there history and you will see a continuing committment from men who give there all and know how to work to make there shark fishing dreams come alive.

For all of you that didn't come out what can i Say you missed the event and the tournament that will forever be a landmark against which other land based shark fishing shark tournaments will be measured.

Don't take my word for it just ask anybody who was there and they will describe the vibe that was present the entire afternoon.

THANKS FROM MY HEART TO EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED AND MADE IT POSSIBLE.EN
my hat's off to Team BLACK BART
Team Hammer n the Phenoms
and Team Salttrash.com there is no better hard working teams anywhere!!!!

THE PICTURES TOMMOROW

wish i could have made it down to florida for the awards party. The weather in Baltimore sure does suck right now. Congrats to all the teams that participated and congrats to Will for putting together an awesome tournament.

Blake

Congratulations to all the winning Teams and participants!! Big PROPS to Will for all your work and efforts getting this together and getting it done. Some of the catches during this gig were absolutely amazing and further proof/testimony that Land Based Shark Fishing in Florida is some of the BEST (if not the BEST) in the entire freakin' world.

Congratulations to the winning teams and all their efforts during the tournament! Big Props to Will for putting together another successful tournament!!

Final tally for the last week of competition .Sorry for the delay.I depend on my wife to download the pictures so many times I depend on her busy daily schedule to get web site related pics in place.

There were more sharks caught from Florida's west coast teams that for one reason or another were not posted.The teams from the west coast had there best year yet in the Big Hammer and we would of liked to see more stories and pics but hopefully next year we will see more from them.Doug Dawson,Charles and Dakota Rockwell of Team Chasin Hitler Da Hammer did a fine job catching sharks from Boca Grande pass,Ft Myers beach north to Reddington long pier but were unable to fix a computer glitch that made it impossible for them to download the pictures into the tournament thread. Jimmy Bois of Team Midnight Sharkers(St Pete) is an extremely versatile land based shark fisherman who represented his team well with the numerous sharks he caught during the Big Hammer.I have had the pleasure of meeting and fishing with on various occasions and can attest to the fact that he is a very dedicated young shark hunter who often travels to the east coast to shark fish.Team Finaddicts fishing the Big Hammer for the first time won third place most sharks with a total of ten sharks caught.Congratulations on a fine job .Back in the 80's the west coast shark tournaments had bigger sharks then the east shark tournaments so it's a proven fact that there are some giant sharks on Florida's west side. Thanks everyone.

glad to be there will wish i had more fishing time but next time i will