Official 2011 Big Hammer Challenge Reports,Pics,Leaderboard

Is tonight or tom night the end of the tourney?

Tourney ends Saturday May 14 at 12 MIDNIGHT.

LAST MINUTE TO POST PICTURES SATURDAY MAY 15th 12 noon

We need back all Tags that have not been used.NMFS was nice enoughy to provide us with the shark tags despite federal funds cut they endured but they need back all unused Tags please.You can mail them to this address

South Florida Shark Club
10818 nw 6 ct Miami,Fl 33168

Apparently it's time for an upgrade since a reel like that can't handle today's type of monsters. Since 70's, with the introduction of the circle hooks, many fish got a better life span. 40 years latter there are some fully grown monster sharks out there.
Tim got tested on his Penn 130 international when a monster took off a mile of line, now William. Overall seams like that even veteran shark fishermen get into meeting they match at one point - this is WHY people go back fishing over and over again!

I've been doing a considerable amount of reseach on this matter and as to why the legendary shark fisherman of the 70s were superior to today's fisherman. It was NOT a matter of tackle, but a great moustache that made the difference!

It may be to late for Will to grow one, but TimmyT could trim up and get one going. JDHammer the legend still rocks his so don't count him out! Even JimmyDean sports some fuzz!

Good luck and let the best moustache win!

Damn will that must have been a real monster. They are out there. Great tourney i love just reading the stories and the pics are great. A lot of sharks have been caught. Good job everyone. Keep them coming till the last minute.

I,m a bit of land-based shark fishing historian so I will clue you all in as to the TRUTH OF THE BIG HAMMER GAME .Sorry Boghy .

The fish today are no bigger then they were 20,30 or even 40 years ago they actually may be smaller because there is more fishing pressure both recreationally and commercially so many times a shark that could grow to it's species maximum size is cut short by a fisherman's hook.
The truth is back in the day the good CONSISTENT shark fisherman caught there big sharks in there local beaches hence there were many more big ones to catch then today.Nowadays fisherman have the advantage of the internet, are more well informed of where the big sharks are at any given time and they travel to target those giants.

Left to right Coty,Will and Travis

I remember big Senators blowing up at least once a year a behemoth hammer would make repeat the same scenario, so it not bigger sharks it is History repeating itself.

Today's shark fisherman actually work harder to catch the Big sharks then ever before no doubt in my mind,,,,Take that to the bank!!!!

As far as getting a better quality reel yeah you could but it does not guarantee you will catch or even hook a GIANT unless you set your mind to do that then actively dedicate yourself to that goal.I made the mistake of not having that particular 14/0 i bought some months ago serviced but I believe that by the force that hammer was exerting on that reel no Penn senator no matter how well serviced may of lasted.The only thing I can suggest is tie your line to the back of your friends car and let him go 5oo yards down the road while you lock your drag to max and see what happens--there you have the comparable scenario.That will find the weak link in your set-up,,be it line ,drag washers,reel gears,frayed guides,non rolling roller guides,line that digs into your softly wound line,,,could be many things .To target these giants you must pay attention to every detail and on top of that say your prayers every night,then hope the lucky stars are shining that day .

A giant hammer is like a earth quake and the famous Richter scale a size 6 earthquake is small in force compared to say a 8 or 9 who is doubled or more in strength.

A 10 foot or 11 foot hammer weighing from 300 to 450 lbs is a weakling compared to a 13 or 14 or 15 foot hammer weighing 700 to 1300 or even ( 1400 lbs pregnant).The power,speed and endurance of such large hammerheads can only be appreciated by those who have felt there incredible devastating pull.It is a matter of everything being just right and lady luck being on your side also.Your line must be right ,your reel must be in tip-top and you must want to feel the sting of battle,willing to endure and fight like never before.

I'm so with will...these new reels can hold drag but penn is the shiat no matter what any wanna be shark fisherman says with a new reel!!!!!!without experience you are just a pain in the ass during grown folks talk....'all do respect' I can say this cause I have shark fished with the best of them! new reels old reels, its he say she say.Really just fish and do not say something that will get you out of the circle of trust.....if your reel works thats fine but Penn has a history of records for A damn reason!!!!!I spent mega $$$$$$ on them cause they fit any style of natural backslappen tug of war......And 'PS' WILL IS NOT WASHED UP OR SOFT!!!!!!!!!!!!!He is an "ICON" in our time. Bet that!!! sorry for the anger but some people have to many opinions on how we should fish and they know who they are.

I'm so with will...these new reels can hold drag but penn is the shiat no matter what any wanna be shark fisherman says with a new reel!!!!!!without experience you are just a pain in the ass during grown folks talk....'all do respect' I can say this cause I have shark fished with the best of them! new reels old reels, its he say she say.Really just fish and do not say something that will get you out of the circle of trust.....if your reel works thats fine but Penn has a history of records for A damn reason!!!!!I spent mega $$$$$$ on them cause they fit any style of natural backslappen tug of war......And 'PS' WILL IS NOT WASHED UP OR SOFT!!!!!!!!!!!!!He is an "ICON" in our time. Bet that!!! sorry for the anger but some people have to many opinions on how we should fish and they know who they are.

I agree, every reel has its place, some in one fishermans hands, some on a boat soem on a beach, they are all meant for catching fish, senators are known year after year for producing monsters, these new reels have potential, and like everything else that is new, they are the center of attention, give it five years and people will tell you there stories of how there new reels have failed in one way or another, i have fished many reels, but my favorite reel to catch a shark on is still a senator

W ok everyone. its fri night 9 o'clock. I'm out here one last chance! nights like this seperate the men from the boys! double overhead surf! wind! weeds! and rollees up to 70yards. out. not easy but I got a big fresh aj soakin so maybe. just maybe I will get " just one fish" as will has been drilling into my brain for weeks. thank you for this great tourny and all the motivation will.

Team Bite Pressure

Well, we gave it one last try and came up short, no pun intended.

6'1" Blacktip

On behalf of Team Bite Pressure, I would like to thank Will and any other organizing members for putting together the most impressive event of the year.

Since I am new to the shark fishing world, this event has probably taught me more in a month than I would have learned in a year under ordinary circumstances. I am really looking forward to next years Big Hammer Challenge.

Good luck to everyone and stay safe out there.

Team Lake Worth with one last hoorah for the BHC.
Went to LW beach despite reports of some pretty insane surf.
Rods were put out, but with 5-7 foot waves and thick weed only 2 held bottom.
Tried to get mine back out and picked the wrong time to kayak out, hit a 7 foot rogue wave about 300 yards out that threw me airborne and landed back in yak and brought me in backwards for 150 yards, scariest kayak moment so far, called it a night after that.

Boghy managed a 7 foot even Lemon despite the surf and with that we hang our hats for the tourney. Great month with great guys and some killer sharks. Thanks to Will, the SFSC, and everyone who participated in the 2011 BHC, can't wait for next year.

Jose's Lemon Rash

Team Getcha Getcha Sharkon
Angler - Snook Hunter
Bull - 7ft 9.5 inches


Angler - CMoney 7
Hammer (foul Hooked) - 8ft 10.5 inch



Angler - CMoney7
Lemon - 9ft 1inch

Angler Joel Turner
5'5"Black Tip caught may 13th at 11:30

No disrespect to that HUGE ray, but I had always thought rays were measured wing to wing. Am I mistaken? Does anyone else measure wing to wing?

Manta rays have traditionally been measured from wing to wing but the sting rays it seems have been measured from tip of tail to tip of head which is the same method used as part of the rules set up to determine winners in the Big Hammer Challenge.One of our goals in the big Hammer Challenge is to keep things as SIMPLE as possible so there is no confusion. Team Total Release I undertand your frustration, I know how hard your team fished ,I know your team caught some massive Goliath Grouper and massive bull sharks . I personally saw first-hand your team set up on that spot for atleast 4 days straight,,,,we fished not too far from your camp .We are always looking for ways to improve the Big Hammer Challenge for the fisherman and we have our ear to the ground listening to what you all want.

West coast teams have done more to improve the quality of this tournament this year then any other area -I knew it was just a matter of time and the RIGHT TEAMS.Team Hammer Wranglers and Team Total Release have `IMPROVED the BHC and have set the bar high for future BHC tournaments.You guys have actually helped improve the BHC so,,,,,,

FOR THE 2012 BIG HAMMER CHALLENGE WE WILL HAVE A NEW CATEGORY SPECIFICALLY FOR GOLIATH GROUPER

First Place -Biggest Goliath Grouper

Second Place -Biggest Goliath Grouper

Third Place -Biggest Goliath Grouper

and a BHC TWO DAY(48 hours) BOCA GRANDE MINI CHALLENGE

Biggest Hammer
Biggest Bull
Biggest Goliath

In 2012 and beyond the BHC will have more and more categories and more and more prizes for it's competitors thanks to your contributions which are greatly appreciated
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