Official 2012 Big Hammer Challenge Reports, Pics-Leaderboard

lost a true monster last night guys...ate tthe bait on my taigra 80w and ripped line off in full lockdown for a steady 5 mins...slow run like it ate the bait and never even knew it was hookd..all the sudden mid run i feel his tail hit the line n then it just goes limp:( like i said it was a monster guys...off to do it again except this time put him on the sand!!!

Wanna catch a big hammer or something like that!!!!!!!!!! need a long leader

lost a true monster last night guys...ate tthe bait on my taigra 80w and ripped line off in full lockdown for a steady 5 mins...slow run like it ate the bait and never even knew it was hookd..all the sudden mid run i feel his tail hit the line n then it just goes limp:( like i said it was a monster guys...off to do it again except this time put him on the sand!!!

Wanna catch a big hammer or something like that!!!!!!!!!! need a long leader

the leader was over 20' long man...i think it got the leader wrapped around its tail or sometthing

Outstanding reports gents!

Hey everybody this is Rico from the Hammer Wranglers. Sorry, couldn't get online earlier i've been having troubles with my computer.
On the night of the giant HammerHead, after finally getting baits out i heard the first few clicks. After setting hook and a blistering run the line goes slack . I thought the fish was gone for sure. Frantically reeling in i feel the fish fighting back. Relieved that I didn't lose it the fight continues on for what seemed like forever and as the leader came out of the water and as Nino and Andrew grab it they fought to hold on to it. The fish pulled away from us and fought for another while. I could see now losing the fish and just having been so close to it to be able to touch it. Fatigue was setting in and it was either me catch this fish now or fight it all night. As i lock down the drag for my final hope to land this fish we see the fin yet again.
As the fish came closer Andrew cautiously slipped the tail rope on the fish. WE DID IT! With all 3 of us tugging as hard as we can we barely could move this fish.
Guessing the fish was 12'3" we were all amazed to find out that it was 13'3" after tagging and releasing the fish i was so tired it felt like my legs were going to fall off.

I really want to say some special thanks to Nino, Andrew, Mallory, and Austin (My Team)
And I also want to thank all the other teams for working so hard and catching so many fish to drive me to get out on that beach every night. You all have done such an amazing job this year.
Special thanks to Will Fundora for bringing us all together every year for the Best shark tournament in all of Florida. Tourneys not even over yet and already looking forward to next year.

Wow you guys are dooing worrkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk are you still a junior angler Rico?

Total Release

Angler - Kyle

6'4" bull
80# Bullbuster



Angler - Rob

6'11" Jew fish
80# Bullbuster

Congrats on that beast, and on 80lb line!!!!!

Thanks! Rob really took it easy getting this one in. We've all had our share of jew fish, but this took the cake!
Thank you Bullbuster for making some damn fine line!!!
If it would have been any other brand, we surely would have lost it...

angler: Shannon Bustamante
team: Hammer N the Phenoms
shark:blacktip
size:5ft 4 inch

angler: Shannon Bustamante
team: Hammer N the Phenoms
shark:scalloped hammerhead
size: 8 ft 3

angler: Raymundo Muniz
team: dirty south shark hunters
shark blacktip
size:5 ft 8 inch

angler: Raymundo Muniz
team: dirty south shark hunters
shark nurse
size:

angler: Kevin Cabrera
team: dirty south shark hunters
shark lemon shark
size:6 ft 11 inch
Line class:80lb test Ima put the fight video and pic in a while

lost a true monster last night guys...ate tthe bait on my taigra 80w and ripped line off in full lockdown for a steady 5 mins...slow run like it ate the bait and never even knew it was hookd..all the sudden mid run i feel his tail hit the line n then it just goes limp:( like i said it was a monster guys...off to do it again except this time put him on the sand!!!

Wanna catch a big hammer or something like that!!!!!!!!!! need a long leader

the leader was over 20' long man...i think it got the leader wrapped around its tail or sometthing

oooohhh i get it...what you need then is good luck hahaha....i hate when weird stuff like that happens...las night i put a big ray like close to 500 yard out there from the beach...got hit, i did the running man hook em up and she pulls drag for like 4 to 5 minutes and then she spit the hook.... thats bad luck.....my international 130 was getting worked

Big congrats to Rico and Nino with a dream Hammer

17 Tigers is absolute craziness... great job by all the helping teams to make that possible.

I wish I could get back down there and get in on the action

Keep it coming the reports have been freaking awesome.

Team: Hammer Wranglers
Angler: Nino Diamandi
Shark: 87" Lemon

Wow you guys are dooing worrkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk are you still a junior angler Rico?

Yes I'm still a junior angler. But this will be the last year

Wow!!!A true Scalloped hammerhead and the biggest I've seen caught from a Florida shoreline in a long time .Congratulations Shannon.Rob that is a slob Goliath and caught on 8o lb test Congratulations.A question for Rico how much line did that 13 ft 3 inch Hammer take off the 12/0 and did you have braid on the bottom and a mono topshot?How long was the first run did the Senator get hot,,,just some details would be great?

angler: Shannon Bustamante
team: Hammer N the Phenoms
shark:scalloped hammerhead
size: 8 ft 3

went out sat with a extra tag along from another team and scott greenly from team ama put this tipper on the sand...not to much else went on besides some dumb drunks trying to be stupid

angler scott greenly
5ft 7 3/4

tail shot

full shark