This year we will have our 5 th Annual Rene Memorial Catch and Release Shark Tournament once again to comemorate one of the best land-based shark fishermen of all times.The tournament will start at the Long Key bridge (north side)but anglers can fish the north or south side .The Rene Memorial will be held from Friday April 22,2011 at noon til Sunday April 24,2011 noon and prizes will be handed out Sunday April 24th at 1pm.
This is a catch and release event all sharks caught will be measured and released back into the wild.Come with your 12/0's and bigger because the possibility of hooking a monster shark during the spring in the keys is very real.This get-together/sharkathon is a fun filled weekend for the entire family and everyone that loves shark fishing,the outdoors ,camping under the bright stars and meeting new folks from all walks of life.We break bread with everyone that attends enjoy the good food and drinks and get to gather around the grill and talk shark fishing and just get to spend some quality outdoor fun with friends and family.
Our Rene Memorial is an event held every year on the Long key bridge because it was the place where Rene de Dios loved to shark fish most and the place where he hooked more big sharks then anywhere else. March and April have proven over the years to be the two best months to target big sharks in the Florida keys bridges.Like in past years we expect to have a large turnout so come prepared with everything you need to stay overnight on the bridge INCLUDING lanterns,coolers with drinks,tackle,sleeping bags and a small pop up tent in case it starts to rain(Posted bridge rules state-you're not supposed to have tents set up full time on the bridge ).If you can get an early start by arriving at the bridge early Friday and set up your spot on the bridge .Remember that the light poles 150 yards off the bridge on the Atlantic side make catching a large shark from this bridge an Exreme Challenge so try fishing close to the ends of the bridge(less poles to go around) to increase your chances of actually landing a MONSTER!!!The registration/donation will be $20 per angler and that can be paid on the north side of the Long key bridge parking lot starting at 12 noon April 22,2011 .We will have the Shark Club RV parked on the Miami side(north side) with the Rene banner hanging on it.Wear your SOUTH FLORIDA SHARK CLUB shirt and bring your best Rene pictures so we can remember the lejend and the good times we shared with him.This event is open to anyone who wants to participate all you have to do is notify me of your group size and the names of the anglers fishing.We will have 3 cash prizes for the biggest sharks caught during the weekend event.Anyone that wants to compete during the weekend event can enter the pool by donating $20 per angler competing.Money will be awarded divided in three parts 50% to first place,30% to second place and 20% to the third place winner.The total money collected will be given out as prizes.The awards for the Fish Categories will be Certificates/trophies.
RAFFLE
We will raffle off some prizes for $5 a ticket.
Shark fishing Harness
Shark fishing Gimbal Belt
Spinning rod and reel
RULES
All sharks must be released.All sharks must be photographed with a digital camera so we can review the pictures .All sharks must be measured and the winners will be determined by overall length.The measuring tape must be visible next to the shark so we can determine length,,,,,,.no exceptions!!!Winners in the fish category will also be determined by overall length,we will measure your fish and determine the winners.
REGISTRATION ON THE NORTH END OF LONG KEY BRIDGE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
SEE WILL OR ONE OF THE OTHER SHARK CLUB MEMBERS FOR TOURNY REGISTRATION
BAR B Q AND DRINKS FRIDAY NIGHT 6PM til 8PM AND SATURDAY NIGHT 6 PM til whenever 
FISHING STARTS FRIDAY APRIL 22 AT NOON ENDS SUNDAY APRIL 24 AT NOON
Prizes awarded at 1 pm Sunday
First biggest shark -50 % of pool
Second biggest shark- 30 % of pool
Third biggest shark-20 % of pool
Biggest Barracuda -certificate and a prize
Biggest Jack -cerificate andand a prize
First biggest snapper-certificate and a prize
First biggest grouper(must be measured,photographed and released) -certificate and a prize
Hope to see you all out on Long key bridge.More details soon.
99 % OF THE FOLLOWING PICTURES WERE TAKEN PRIOR TO RENE'S DEATH IN 2003 AT A TIME WHEN MOST SHARKS WERE WEIGHED ON SCALES RATHER THEN RELEASED .TODAY THE SFSC PRACTICES CATCH AND RELEASE AND PREFERS TAG AND RELEASE OF ALL SHARKS.
Rene and friends on the Long key bridge
HERE ARE SOME AWESOME CATCHES OF PAST YEARS TO GET YOUR BLOOD FLOWING
2009 BIGGEST HAMMERHEAD SHARK of the year - Shannon Bustamante 12 ft 2 inch Triple Crown Winner $500
Joey Fuqua and his father Jimbo with his 11ft 4 inch 2007 hammerhead shark.
Joey Fuqua with his prize hammerhead shark.
Lui on the seven mile bridge at the middle - Moser Channel before the bridge was cut
Joey is all smiles with the biggest catch of his lifetime.
Vivian Garcia with her 1997-11 ft 1 inch 384 lb Long Key bridge hammerhead shark
LUI and a big bull on the seven mile bridge before the new rails were put in
An almost 11 foot hammerhead caught by Rene in 2000
Double 1998 hammers Rene and Shannon(seaweed jr)
JD Hammer(Jimbo)with a big 2007 Long Key bridge jewfish
Long Key bridge jewfish Will-2008
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
a couple of questions...
would a goliath grouper count as biggest grouper?
can we fish the south side of long key?
can we fish 7-mile?
Just an average fisherman.
Read the rules Mark!!Long key bridge only,yes you can fish a mile away on the south side but all sharks caught must have proof such as up close pictures taken with a digital camera.
Fish will be measured to determine the prize winners- Jack,Barracuda,snapper and grouper are the species.NO the Goliath does not count for the grouper division.
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'm so in! 
I CANT WAIT THIS IS GOING TO BE THE YEAR 5 BIG SHARKS WILL BE CAUGHT ON THESE DAYS
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
cant wait ...
Will i hope i will be ready for this one since they finally put the futula in my arm.I want to remember our teacher and friend Rene. I hope to be ready for this one 
he was taken from us so soon
What the heck is a "futula", It dose not sound good to me? You been ok B51?
I am about to get slightly back into action.
I just need 3, 2 piece rods so i can carry on my Motorcycle...lol.
MOJO WHAT I MEANT WAS A FISTULA CREATION FOR DYALASES DO JOU GET IT NOW 
Hope to see you all on the bridge and as always the bar bq and party on Saturday evening will be memorable,,,,big Texas sized steaks,yellow seafood rice and the best sushi in the keys courtesy of yours truly.
We will have some prizes for the fish categories and the certificates for everyone that registers to compete .
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
MOJO WHAT I MEANT WAS A FISTULA CREATION FOR DYALASES DO JOU GET IT NOW
I hope i see you there, I am trying to get my act together. Even if i cant get rods and reels by then i will try to get there Saturday around noonish. All i need is 2 new tires on the Magna "Honda Motorcycle" and that shouldn't be a problem. Save some BBQ 
Stay Strong my Friend.
i hope i get to come this year but im not paying $3.54 for gas to make the trip down there to fish maybe they will get it that war over with by then and the gas will drop yeah the truck gets good gas milage but the last 2 years with food and gas and drinks and bait that is going to run me about 350 to 400 dollars to make that trip
i hope i can make it
god speed guys dream about the big one that your going to catch this year
"2017 Team little rock
Never test the depth of the water with both feet"
I DO NOT SWIM IN THE OCEAN
GO BIG OR GO HOME