Rene Memorial Sharkathon April 23-26-2010 Long Key bridge

* I was talking about shannons post about the prank not Will's post.

awesome post and good pranks

a few pictures of the meeting and mine and will's camp on the long key bridge


will and his laptop lmao


will and shannon

After the meeting i went ahead and headed to the keys and when i got to long key i ran into jd hammer and jimmy. Over all it was a good trip, i won the biggest snapper.
Jd hammer is still trying to figure out how us tampa bay boys can catch pin fish in the keys.
I wish more sharks were caught but it was fun, i had a shark instead of hitting my bait on the 14/0 run into my line. jd hammer looks at me and chad its a hammer i looked and him and said really as my reels screams i set up on him and set the hook by doing the running man to the end of the bridge and the i tell hammer the shark is not hook it is just swimming through my line after i saw the shark come to the top of the water and get out of the loop it wasin i was sick it was bigger that 7 foot i know i saw it

oh my big snapper lol 14 inches pictures didnt turn out but hammer said it was good when he cooked it lmao

Thanks Chad for the pics and story.A few more pics of last weekend's Rene Memorial.


Rey messing with Meir because he's got the star of david in his haircut LOL!!!!

Meir,Rey and Chinese eyed Joe boy

had to help this poor old guy cuz he said help me I've got enphesema ,,,,helped a nice guy catch his Atlantic sharpnose shark

I had a great time at Rene's Memorial opening celebration at Advantage Pawn, nice to meet other club members and friends. Unfortunately I was unable to fish the Memorial as I'm still nursing a wound on my left leg that I got on a hard core fishing trip. And I'm just putting my shark gear together, so far I got the reels: two 14/0's and a BRAND NEW 16/0! (I'm not going to fish that reel, it's too rare and too valuable, I don't think too many new 16/0's around. I got my Gator glass blanks and I will beging wrapping next month, I'll post pictures.

Well folks I've been busy lately studying this current real estate market and going to some seminars on short sales to jump back in as an investor and have not been very active on the site but i'm back now .This is our favorite time of the year for hooking monsters in South Florida and in the keys Spring time approaches and that means the big sharks start to show up, hungry and ready to break your back and spool your reels.The action gets hot in March and April and last year was the perfect example ,,,,,,there were more big sharks caught in 2009 Big Hammer Challenge held the entire month of April then in any other land based shark tournaments in Florida in 09.

RENE DE DIOS MEMORIAL SHARKATHON FRI MARCH 26-SUN MARCH 28 and FRI APRIL 23 -SUN APRIL 26,2009
This year again we welcome all interested to join us on Long Key bridge for the Fourth Annual Rene Memorial Sharkathon from Friday March 26th to Sunday March 28th.The second one will be held from Fri April 23rd to Sun April 25th 2009.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.

This year again we will have two Rene Memorial Events on Long key bridge because 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.We will have the Shark Club RV parked on the Miami 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 trophies.We will have a long distance surfcasting competition on Saturday 12 noon for all those interested let us know ahead of time.
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 MARCH 26 AT NOON ENDS SUNDAY MARCH 28 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.

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