Todays Best Land Based Shark Fisherman?????

Thanks to this website we have all lived, read about, or heard of the best shark fishermen of the past. Their sharks as well as related pictures and stories are legendary! What I would like to know is who do you feel are the best shark fishermen of today? Of those currently shark fishing, whose passion for the sport, great catches and willingness to share their passion make them legends today!

This is a good question but one that is not easy to answer.There are many good land based shark fisherman but not all possess the will to help or as 'Old Man' says "the willingness to share their passion".Anyone can learn to catch sharks ,and the better ones learn to catch the big of sharks but THE GREAT ONES are the ones that contribute in a positive way to the sport,go out of there way to give back something to the sport and it's anglers .Unfortunately not every good shark fisherman wants or cares about others catching big sharks----so they stay stuck at 'GOOD SHARK FISHERMAN' and may never become GREAT unless they mature and eventually give something back to the sport.We have seen some very good competitive shark fisherman that could better represent our sport by giving of themselves in some positive way but instead they choose to not share much of anything with there fellow anglers.Most of the ones we have seen that fit that description don't really get involved in the protection of sharks,anglers who fish for sharks or more importantly for us 'the protection of our land-based shark fishing rights'.Some of these good shark fisherman are quick to start a fights related to there "spots" on some shark fishing forums but rarely are they quick at helping other fisherman .They keep to themselves methods, techniques,preferred baits,insights on best seasons,movement of sharks during specific months or movement of baitfish that atrract sharks to the shoreline and will help no one with a tidbit of positive reinforcement-it is there right to do so, but how sad and short sighted they are.

A great fisherman has to be classified as one that gives something of himself to the sport ,one that is unselfish and willing to help others.It may be that he helps create and then shares a new technique ,develops or finds new ways of producing more bites and openly shares the new found knowledge for the benefit of all.Simply catching sharks and then having everyone pat you on the back does not make you a great shark fisherman or a legend,,,,giving back to the sport (in my book)sets you on the road to becoming a great and legendary shark fisherman.The best have always been characterized by there longevity and contributions to a sport and todays new breed of top notch shark fisherman are INVOLVED to enhance there sport and contribute to the positive benefit of those involved in the sport.

A GREAT SHARK FISHERMAN WILL PROVE HIMSELF OVER TIME AND IS NOT SELFISH BUT INSTEAD LOVES THE FISHERMAN IN HIS SPORT AND FEELS COMPELLED TO HELP IN ANY WAY HE CAN.HE MAY HELP BY SHARING HIS KNOWLEDGE IN WRITTEN FORM ,HE MAY HELP BY PROMOTING IN AN EVENT THAT REPRESENTS THE SPORT WELL OR HE MAY BE A GREAT BY HELPING THE YOUNG FISHERMAN WITH TIPS AND KNOWLEDGE GAINED OVER THE YEARS.A GREAT IN ANY SPORT WILL SURFACE NOT BY WHAT HE SAYS BUT BY WHAT HE DOES,,,,TIME OFTEN WEEDS OUT THOSE THAT DON'T HAVE THE FORTITUDE TO STICK WITH A SPORT THROUGH THICK AND THIN AND THAT ALSO SEPARATES THE GOOD AND DISTINGUISHES THE GREAT .THE GREATS WILL BE REMEMBERED NOT ONLY BY THE BIG FISH THEY CAUGHT BUT BY THE GREAT THINGS THEY DID TO UPHOLD AND UPLIFT A SPORT

Well said Will

Some of these shark fisherman that catch many sharks and sometimes big sharks because they are blessed to live close to prime shark fishing beaches become cocky,arrogant

This quote from William has a lot of truth in it

Very well said Will. I know a few folk's that catch quite a bit and don't post on any sites simply becuase they don't look for notoriety. I've met some guys that have caught some great animals that think they are the best thing since sliced bread too. They forget where they came from.

Very well said but so very true. Nice will!!!!!

William is dead on with his response - what many may not realize is he is also giving a lot of his secrets to life in general. If you really read what he is saying in his response and actually LISTEN to the words you will hear a lot of wisdom that comes from years of experience, hard lessons learned, and a true passion for an incredible sport. There are a LOT of people that do a LOT of talking but William is one of the people that is DOING something - I personally like his way of DOING something than a lot of other peoples way of doing NOTHING.

Thank You William,

Dustin (Scout)

William is one of the people that is DOING something ...

Dustin (Scout)

I agree totally with Dustin. I am a new member but have monitered this site, on and off, for years. Will is one of the reasons I joined this site. I do include him as one of today's best. His dedication to this site alone, I feel, shows his passion. And no one can knock his fishing ability. I look forward to meeting him one day, and hopefully fishing with him. I know I could learn much from him.
I apologize to Will, as I took for granted that he is one of the best today, with out mentioning it in my first post. Thanks Will for all you do to maintain this site (which I am sure is monumental), and to push forward the sport of shark fishing (again, no easy task in todays world). Twenty years from now shark fishermen will most likely be talking of you as we talk of the likes of Rene today. Thanks again Will.

With so many really good sharkfisherrmen out there and
the advances in equipment and technics it would be
difficult if not impossible to pick one based on number
of catches or size of fish. Even shear numbers do not
determine greatest. It's all about making a mark on the
sport it's self. You have to respect anyone who shows
a true passion for the sport and even more so when they
have a way of making you feel thier excitement. The early
pioneers of this sport had that passion and drive and this
shows now in those who continue to drive the sport towards
a more positive future. I've only met a few dedicated true
grit sharkfishmen willling to teach and give back to the
sport in a way that makes a difference. These guys are
the same as our founding fathers of this country. During
the struggle for our independence of all the people living in
the colonies only 3% actually did anything to free us of from
the English rule. I think that 3% rule is pretty close in the
Greatest Sharkfisherman debate. There is a hand full of truly
greats out there and I hope you gentlemen continue to use
you fire to light the future of the sport in a positive direction.

Unselfish teaching and giving is the measure of not only a great sharker but a person.

Sarge

Thanks to this website we have all lived, read about, or heard of the best shark fishermen of the past. Their sharks as well as related pictures and stories are legendary! What I would like to know is who do you feel are the best shark fishermen of today? Of those currently shark fishing, whose passion for the sport, great catches and willingness to share their passion make them legends today!

This is a good question but one that is not easy to answer.There are many good land based shark fisherman but not all possess the will to help or as 'Old Man' says "the willingness to share their passion".Anyone can learn to catch sharks ,and the better ones learn to catch the big of sharks but THE GREAT ONES are the ones that contribute in a positive way to the sport,go out of there way to give back something to the sport and it's anglers .Unfortunately not every good shark fisherman wants or cares about others catching big sharks----so they stay stuck at 'GOOD SHARK FISHERMAN' and may never become GREAT unless they mature and eventually give something back to the sport.We have seen some very good competitive shark fisherman that could better represent our sport by giving of themselves in some positive way but instead they choose to not share much of anything with there fellow anglers.Most of the ones we have seen that fit that description don't really get involved in the protection of sharks,anglers who fish for sharks or more importantly for us 'the protection of our land-based shark fishing rights'.Some of these good shark fisherman are quick to start a fights related to there "spots" on some shark fishing forums but rarely are they quick at helping other fisherman .They keep to themselves methods, techniques,preferred baits,insights on best seasons,movement of sharks during specific months or movement of baitfish that atrract sharks to the shoreline and will help no one with a tidbit of positive reinforcement-it is there right to do so, but how sad and short sighted they are.

Some of these shark fisherman that catch many sharks and sometimes big sharks because they are blessed to live close to prime shark fishing beaches become cocky,arrogant and very protective of what they do because they believe there areas will be overfished or affected in a negative way by more anglers doing what they do.We have seen those types of selfish shark fisherman actually contribute to the downfall of some once popular land-based shark tournaments such as the 'Shorbound Shark Tourney 'because they openly fought on website forums over others fishing in there neighborhood beaches like they owned Public Beaches,,,,,, all to the detriment of the tourney ,the site involved, and shark fishing in general.They eventually found themselves isolated and the tournament directors no longer willing to put up with the selfish and foolish lot.

A great fisherman has to be classified as one that gives something of himself to the sport ,one that is unselfish and willing to help others.It may be that he helps create and then shares a new technique ,develops or finds new ways of producing more bites and openly shares the new found knowledge for the benefit of all.Simply catching sharks and then having everyone pat you on the back does not make you a great shark fisherman or a legend,,,,giving back to the sport (in my book)sets you on the road to becoming a great and legendary shark fisherman.The best have always been characterized by there longevity and contributions to a sport and todays new breed of top notch shark fisherman are INVOLVED to enhance there sport and contribute to the positive benefit of those involved in the sport.

A GREAT SHARK FISHERMAN WILL PROVE HIMSELF OVER TIME AND IS NOT SELFISH BUT INSTEAD LOVES THE FISHERMAN IN HIS SPORT AND FEELS COMPELLED TO HELP IN ANY WAY HE CAN.HE MAY HELP BY SHARING HIS KNOWLEDGE IN WRITTEN FORM ,HE MAY HELP BY PROMOTING IN AN EVENT THAT REPRESENTS THE SPORT WELL OR HE MAY BE A GREAT BY HELPING THE YOUNG FISHERMAN WITH TIPS AND KNOWLEDGE GAINED OVER THE YEARS.A GREAT IN ANY SPORT WILL SURFACE NOT BY WHAT HE SAYS BUT BY WHAT HE DOES,,,,TIME OFTEN WEEDS OUT THOSE THAT DON'T HAVE THE FORTITUDE TO STICK WITH A SPORT THROUGH THICK AND THIN AND THAT ALSO SEPARATES THE GOOD AND DISTINGUISHES THE GREAT .THE GREATS WILL BE REMEMBERED NOT ONLY BY THE BIG FISH THEY CAUGHT BUT BY THE GREAT THINGS THEY DID TO UPHOLD AND UPLIFT A SPORT

Bam dead on will.....very well said.

Thats what I'm talking about,good shit!!!!!

So who is the best dam it?

Let's quite beating around the bush who is the best shark fisherman today!!!!!!!

So who is the best dam it?

Let's quite beating around the bush who is the best shark fisherman today!!!!!!!

IN MY OPINION THESE ARE SOME OF THE BEST THAT I CAN THINK OF .THESE ARE BASED ON OVERALL KNOWLEDGE OF THE SPORT AND PRODUCTION OVER THE YEARS WITHOUT REGARD TO THERE CURRENT PARTICIPATION IN THE SPORT OR AFFILIATION TO THIS SITE.I'M SURE THERE ARE MANY THAT COULD BE ON THIS LIST BUT THESE ARE THE ONE'S I CAN THINK OF NOW.I SINCERELY HOPE NO ONE IS OFFENDED BY THIS LIST BECAUSE I AM SURE I MISSED MANY BUT THESE ARE THE ONES THAT I PERSONALLY KNOW.

TODAY'S BEST LAND BASED SHARK FISHERMAN (in my opinion)

JD HAMMER (sfsc)
TIMMY-T SWAGGERTY (sfsc)
CHRIS BISHOP (boatless)
MIKE PALMER (n/a)
ERNIE POLK (sfsc)
JEFF SHINDLE (extreme coast)
TROY COUPEL (sos)
ERIC OZLINS (extreme coast)
PETE BARRETT (boatless)
JIMMY DEAN FUQUA (sfsc)
BIG WILL J FUNDORA (sfsc)
MATT ZAPALA (sos)
MARK DUNCAN (sos)
CHARLIE JAMIESON(n/a)
CURTIS LOCKE (boatless)
SHANNON BUSTAMANTE (sfsc)
DOUG(dougr81)(sfsc,e coast,sos)
CARL (cmoney7) sfsc