Rene did the pier better then anyone .Here are some of his newspaper appearences.
Rene understood since his early years shark fishing on the south beach pier the media's fascination with sharks and he capitilized on that fascination by calling The Miami Herald or one of the local TV stations like CBS channel 4,or NBC channel 7, everytime he caught a big shark.The newspaper loved to put his stories and pics in print and even sought him out when a problem with a shark attack occured locally.After a few years they knew him well in and around Miami Beach and South Florida as the guy who catches all the sharks at South Beach.
Rene and Benny ,hammer and tiger in one shot....not bad.
Rene in one of his earliest appearances in the miami Herald.
More to come soon,,,,,see ya
Those are awesome pics and articles. You know I don't get to fish as often as I would like because I have three little ones, but it's amazing how when we get spotted with our gear people always walk up to us and somehow Rene's name gets mentioned and not by us. The other day I was having coffee and I met a Captain that lives near the house and frequents there often, and as we started talking he mentions how his thing is Swordfishing, and then I mention how I like all types of fishing but I guess he saw the gleam in my eyes when I started talking about the Sharks. As we started talking about the Sharks he says " you know who used catch some huge Sharks on South beach Rene de Dios". So I tell him how my uncle used to fish with him pretty often and suff like that. Then another morning I am having a meeting for work at a restaurant and Manny Puig ( the Sharkman ) or ( the Cuban Tarzan ) is sitting there having breakfast. I don't like to bother people but I felt as Manny would enjoy a picture of a Shark. So I go to Manny and show him a couple of pics of recent Sharks that I had caught from my laptop and I say " hey check this out " and Many is like " wow that's a Big Lemon Shark ". So Manny starts talking about Sharks and he is really into talking about Sharks with me ( mind you I have a meeting going on ) and he of course brings up Rene de Dios and how he used to catch huge Sharks and that he was the best. It's truly amazing the impact that he left doing what he loved to do. It's amazing how someone can see your Shark gear, and within a bit Rene's name will get mentioned. You know I only met him a couple of times as I was very young when my uncle and he would fish together, but from what I hear he not only was the best Shark Fisherman out there, he was a great person, and more importantly a great father. I have aslo been told many stories of how he saved several lives not just people drowning off the beach, but in hundreds of feet of water out in a boat. I guess the point to the story is that this guys impact on Shark Fishing in South Florida is inbelievable, I mean everyone knows who he is and they all say he was the best. What an impact he made. It would be pretty cool if I could go out to my favorite bridge and run into the man that I have heard such crazy and great stories about, but I know for some they just wish they could have there friend back.
Thanks picua for your post about Rene.Rene was well known in the world of shark fishing there is no doubt that people in south Florida were aware of who he was.Rene developed a reputation because he became absorbed in his shark fishing,,,,,he was flamboyant(some say he had a big mouth)but he was capable of backing up what he said he would do.He paid the price,he sacrificed like no one i have ever met to catch the most and the biggest sharks-year after year,,he was unbeatable.It was scary to watch his life unravel because of the sharks,,,,his marriage fell apart,he skipped from job to job,and many times had to do without because money was tight.He was extremely focused,insanely possessed to be the best shark fisherman in the world.His dedication was unquestionable and everything was secondary to catching sharks.I would be lying if did'nt say what i believe to be the truth that Rene died young because the shark fishing took so much of his energy and he spent so many nights fishing instead of sleeping.In his last years Rene was diabetic to the point where he had to inject himself with insulin once or twice a day.It hurts to think how bad we miss him.
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
I posted in another thread that I watched the video of RENE with the big Tiger ,the other day & really could see how much "Fire" the Man had ;
I used to be like that with Hunting upstateNY & was going the way RENE was, but I kind of "pulled the nose up" before crashing
Sharking is the only thing that is like that ,
Actually Sharkin' exceeds the thrill& pull of hunting, the weather is much nicer, the Sea gets in your blood & that Salt never comes out
I can see how it consumed Rene totally, there is NOTHING like it in the world...
I would say R.I.P. Rene, but he's probably at the pier or on the Beach right now hovering near some Sharker like a Guardian Angel, giving him the drive to stay out & nail the Monsters...... so Tight Lines & screemin'Drags ,Rene, Fish On!!!
I posted in another thread that I watched the video of RENE with the big Tiger ,the other day & really could see how much "Fire" the Man had ;
I used to be like that with Hunting upstateNY & was going the way RENE was, but I kind of "pulled the nose up" before crashing
Sharking is the only thing that is like that ,
Actually Sharkin' exceeds the thrill& pull of hunting, the weather is much nicer, the Sea gets in your blood & that Salt never comes out
I can see how it consumed Rene totally, there is NOTHING like it in the world...
I would say R.I.P. Rene, but he's probably at the pier or on the Beach right now hovering near some Sharker like a Guardian Angel, giving him the drive to stay out & nail the Monsters...... so Tight Lines & screemin'Drags ,Rene, Fish On!!!
i will like to see that video...where can i find it?????please pm me
I posted in another thread that I watched the video of RENE with the big Tiger ,the other day & really could see how much "Fire" the Man had ;
I used to be like that with Hunting upstateNY & was going the way RENE was, but I kind of "pulled the nose up" before crashing
Sharking is the only thing that is like that ,
Actually Sharkin' exceeds the thrill& pull of hunting, the weather is much nicer, the Sea gets in your blood & that Salt never comes out
I can see how it consumed Rene totally, there is NOTHING like it in the world...
I would say R.I.P. Rene, but he's probably at the pier or on the Beach right now hovering near some Sharker like a Guardian Angel, giving him the drive to stay out & nail the Monsters...... so Tight Lines & screemin'Drags ,Rene, Fish On!!!i will like to see that video...where can i find it?????please pm me
Here Jonathan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AueIhYzHo7k
HOLY MACKEREL! I just now saw this post ,
I am so sorry I didn't get on here , I was down in the big apple for a few in the hospital getting another treatmnt, & laying up home
Sorry ,I wasn't ignoring the post i was just not "on" at all ,
wish i was back in Fla. Fishin'&Sharkin',
Well i will Just need patience [which I don't have,unless it's for Fishin'LOL]