Here's the story that came out in the Florida Today written by Dennis Thomas jr about Rene's mishap on the high seas.he hooked the biggest shark of his life and it almost cost him his life.
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
Gives me chills. CRAZY STUFF
Eddie C.
Team BullBuster
Check out the new BullBuster website, opening JUNE
William, I seem to remember that Rene strapped his shark rod to the underside of the boat, it washed ashore in Texas or one of the Carolinas(?) & Rene ended up getting his shark reel back. The thing I remember him talking about the most was that they were treated like kings on the ship. They ate at the captain's table, and had all the lobster they wanted. He said that his legs were a mess for a long time & that he came close to losing one of them. Nothing could ever keep Rene from fishing. No woman, job, diabetes, lack of money, nothing ever stood between him & fishing. One of the original hard core fishermen. He forgot about food, comfort, everything, but never forgot about fishing! 
Thanks for posting the article.
dammmm thats a crazy story
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
he got the rod and reel both back because he tied it to the boat
"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
Wow this is what seperates our shark club from the rest. We are etched into some many news paper articles,stories,books, hell they even put our shark fishing style in a movie with J-lo and jack nickelson(blood and wine) i believe.
I remember having Many Puigs film crew dieng to come film us but i was too young dumb and heard headed to make it happen.
We have so much history,and articles like this show you why.
SFSC -East Coast Events Coordinator
That is truly an amazing story, true grit! Thanks for putting it up!
Rene this one is gonna be dedicated to you my friend.
I rememmber as a skinny kid the day I saw Rene in a shark fishing trance at the old South Beach pier I told myself "this is what I want to do"and my life became shark fishing .I watched his every move and he became my childhood Idol then as I got closer to him over the years his dreams became my dreams and still live inside me.
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
Cool story! I love it!
Touched my heart and shark soul....."THIS ONE'S FOR THE MAN" it would be an honor for me to be part of this!!!!!! 'MUCH LOVE'
On the 5th annual RENE memorial sharkathon..........;
RENA WAS THE KING OF THE SHARK FISHERMAN, LAND OR SEA. AT ONE TIME IN HIS LIFE HE WAS THE#1 SHARKER 
IN AMERICA. HE WAS WINNING EVERY TOURNY HE ENTERED.
One of the many amazing stories about this man. Wish I could have met him just to see his fire in his eyes for this sport. I hope to one day to achieve a 1/4 of what he did!
Team HUGE Gear Captain
"GET SOME!"
YOU AND ME BOTH!!!!! 
He wuz good shiat!!!!!!