Just recieved this communique in the form of an email from FWC and it highlights the new shark fishing laws that go into effect as of Jan 1st,2012.Notable and in red is the fact that they want any prohibited species that dies on the line returned to the water.I guess that means if you are in possesion of a dead prohibited species you WILL BE PROSECUTED IF CAUGHT.So remember folks if any sharks die on the beach as often happens with hammerheads you are to leave them in the surf to wash up the next day,,,,,,,,HUH???????That's what the law says and we should not question the law JUST OBEY IT.Atleast we're grateful they clarified the matter.This puts us in a difficult spot because if a dead hammerhead washes up during Tournament time or any other time of the year then the locals or authorities will be pointing a finger at us and if we try and avoid contreversy by taking a hammerhead that has died during it's fight on the line off the beach then WE ARE SUBJECT TO ARREST.So another black eye to our sport with a dead hammer washing up is what FWC prefers.Whatever you decide to do folks just remember we don't want any more bad publicity,,,,
SO PLEASE RELEASE YOUR SHARKS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND WALK THRU THE SURF ANY SHARK THAT LOOKS LIKE IT IS STRUGGLING TO SWIM AWAY .WALK YOUR SHARK AS LONG AS YOU HAVE TO TO ASSURE THEY SWIM AWAY SAFELY TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY
Thank You.
recieved Dec 2,2012
Shark Regulations
■Hook and line are the only allowable gear for harvesting sharks and the use of natural bait when using multiple hooks is prohibited
■Minimum fork length of 54 inches for all sharks (excluding Atlantic sharpnose, blacknose, blacktip, bonnethead, finetooth and smooth dogfish)
■Maximum of 1 shark per harvester per day or 2 per vessel, whichever is less
■Sharks are to be landed in whole condition, this includes landing sharks with heads and tails intact
■All harvest of the following shark species is prohibited: Atlantic Angel, Basking, Bigeye Sand Tiger, Bigeye Sixgill, Bigeye Thresher, Bignose, Caribbean Reef, Caribbean Sharpnose, Dusky, Galapagos, Lemon, Longfin Mako, Narrowtooth, Night, Silky, Sand Tiger, Sandbar, Sevengill, Sixgill, Smalltail, Whale and White
■All harvest of Spiny Dogfish, Manta Ray, Spotted Eagle Ray and Sawfish is also prohibited
**NEW** Shark Management Changes
The FWC Commissioners passed a rule that prohibits the recreational and commercial harvest of tiger sharks and great, scalloped and smooth hammerhead sharks from state waters at the Nov. 16, 2011, meeting. The rule will take effect January 1, 2012.
Anglers may catch and release prohibited shark species in state waters. Anglers may also catch and take some species of shark in federal waters and land them in Florida but boats traveling through state waters carrying shark must not stop in state waters until the fish are landed.
Catch and release methods: By using the following techniques when fishing for shark, anglers can greatly increase fish survival rates.
■Use tackle heavy enough to land a fish quickly to reduce exhaustion, which could result in its death or weaken it making it more vulnerable to predators. (Prohibited species that die while on the line after being caught in state waters should be returned to the water.)
■Release the fish while it is in the water when possible.
■Use a de-hooking device to remove hooks safely.
■Use non-stainless steel hooks - these hooks can dissolve if they remain in a fish.
■Use non-offset circle hooks when fishing with natural bait to avoid gut hooking a fish - circle hooks tend to hook fish in the jaw, making them easy to remove.
■Bend barbs down on hooks so they can be
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
So hammers aren't on the list anymore I see tigers but nothing bour hammers
EVERY ONE OUT THERE DON'T FOR GET THAT POSSESSION IS 9/10 OF THE LAW ...
Yes, hammers are still included in the ban on harvest. It's good to see that they've clarified the terms of the ban in regard to fish coming in dead or not surviving after release. I thought this would be the deal, as it's the same for many other fisheries management policies. So as long as you don't retain a dead hammer or tiger and instead put it back in the ocean you're OK and above board. It seems a shame to waste a shark, but they have to draw a line somewhere and this stops the deliberate killing of a shark as there is no reason to kill it if you can't retain it.
I guess if there was a worry with upsetting locals by leaving a dead shark carcass to wash up on the shore it could always be kayaked out a way and attached to a brick or two, mafia stylee. 
I just looked at the pamphlet from my tagging package and it was updated in july this year and says lemons can be harvested lol I just got it like a month ago too lol they need to update it again lol
The FWC and the scientist pushing for these Shark Bans don't give a crap about us.
as posted on sharksonthesand.com
I will fish and YES I will Post my catch on the websites, I will not practice our sport in fear and coward away.
Regardless of whether it dies or not FWC knows that 95% of us LBSF release our sharks so they should not be shocked when a hammer washes up on a beach.I will post and they will have to prove that a shark was intentionally killed and they would not be able to do that,,,,, common sense tells you that if someone was trying to kill a shark to take home it would not be released but instead in the back of a pickup truck.
This law was politically motivated there is no doubt in my mind that they are attacking us because our sport has become much more visible in the last several years and there are people like Dr Neal Hamerschlag of Um and the Dunlop Foundation who stop at a certain beach in the Keys right next to the road where they see us and have on occasion sent FWC over to harass us because a bull shark got stuck on the sandbar and drowned .They took out circle hooks and told one of the SFSC members that they are what we should be fishing with so that the sharks will survive.
These knuckle head scientist want to blame us for the declining shark stocks even if they KNOW THAT TO BE A HUGE LIE,,,,they don't care-- we are an easy target, no big money, just a bunch of blue collar guys who don't have political connections or connections with FWC bigwigs.They will continue to tighten the screws and use every excuse they can to LIMIT and RESTRICT our sport and we should come together as much as possible to defend ourselves from the ambitious self righteous pompous pale skinned book worms that call themselves scientist and twist the truth ,talk eloquently to less inteligent military types who believe the beautiful bullshit talked in there ears.
I have lived through many changes in this sport and have never seen such damage done to our sport as I have seen in the last four years.Beachside Communities that want us off the beaches and scientist that lie to get there agendas passed ---THAT'S ALL IT BOILS DOWN TO.There are no shortages of lemon sharks they are thriving yet they too are banned because Dr Samuel(Sonny)Gruber who i know personally and have fished with on Rene's boat when Rene was alive was the genious behind the lemon ban because he was afraid that a ledge off Jupiter (Palm Becahes)that's loaded with hundreds of lemon sharks would be targetted by the commercial shark fishing fleets in the area.So ask yourself is that reasonable??To restrict the whole state because you're trying to protect a certain population.I don't think so!!After I saw that i knew that anything against us is possible if pushed by the right politician or scientist.
The people at FWC and the commision are not smart enough or are inclined to work that hard to do there own independent research so they believe every supposed SAVIOR OF THE RESOURCES THAT scare them with the scenario of extinct shark populations.Lack of leadership from all levels is evident not only from the Federal goverment but at the state level as well.Limits would be reasonable,, BANS are based on fear and disregard,,,the powers that be don't give a crap about the the lowly LBSF and THAT'S THE SAD TRUTH.The bull shark is next -I give it no more then two or three year at the most.INTERNATIONAL Longliners slice and dice while we get Banned into the UNDERGROUND EVENTUALLY ,,,I hope i'm wrong.
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
It's an unfortunate fact that people with narrow minds (FWC) usually have broad tongues.
William, I have followed what you and like minded LBSF people have been doing in your great state for some time now. You guys are out there voicing what needs to be heard, and I truly appreciate that. Over the past four years, LBSF have been given a reputation from FWC and their ilk that we have not earned. As a visitor that comes to share our passion in Florida a few times a year, I have noticed a shift in perception on the beaches also. I really beleive LBSF anglers aim above the mark to hit the mark. We practice live release whenever possible, we fish away from most beach goers, and we leave no trace after we get off the sand. I can't speak for everyone, but I know most LBSF camps don't bother other anglers in their sport. I am certain my camp does this.
But that's not enough is it?
I remember five years ago when I could fish virtually anywhere on the Florida panhandle with no problems. I don't recall being asked to move or leave an area simply because I was fishing for shark. Now park rangers direct us to move if some beach goer 200 yards away complains about rod spikes. Sure, you can quote the statute on harrassment to fishermen. I keep a laminated copy with me for this purpose. I have found this usually just makes the park staff harass you even more.
Most folks here know Mark and I can be pretty hardheaded about that kind of thing 
You have to stand your ground and know the law.
Don't take it for granted the park "officials" know what you can and cannot do. We have found it's better to bend a little with them if you want to enjoy your trip and just move. The shortest drive for us to enjoy any sand in Florida is 10 hours one way. Normally we drive nearly 16 to get to certain spots. I don't want to drag all of my gear down to a spot and have to move several times over a pissing contest, but it is what it is...Practicing set patterns will not let you adapt. The general public has no clue about LBSF unless we educate them. Most people think we are "luring" in animals where they want to swim. And sadly, this mentality is enforced by some park/state officals that don't know any better either.
It's better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt. Ignorance is curable. Stupidity is not. Know the statutes and give officials no reason to harass you.. If you drink, leave that at home or away from your camp. It just opens the door for more grief from law enforcement.
Some sharks die, it's just the way it is. I can't think of any circumstance in which ANY person could determine WHO caused a fish to die.That's a very slippery slope IMO. We have to be discrete around the general public that doesn't understand this concept. Just like they don't understand Mexico using mile long gill nets or long liners that fin sharks and dump them over their sides. But, like Will said, they will always focus on the easiest most visible targets-us first. We cannot give in to this.
The trouble with going with the flow is, you might wind up getting sucked down the drain. There is a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot. It is the choices we make,not the changes we take,that determines our destiny. I will not give in to this, and I hope no other folks do either. We have to remain vigilant and let our voices be heard. It will not happen over a web site, or in your livingroom. You have to get out there and talk to people.
Otherwise, the rule of the day will be carried by those who make up the laws that suit them the best. My .02clevrrr1
Posts: 134
Joined: May 7th, 2011, 10:27 am
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Very well said and I agree with everything u said I will fish how I fish and always put a monster sharks life first even if it could be the record shark I always wanted ill get my measurements and let science decide if its a record only time I've killed a shark is to eat it never killed for fun or just jaws. People need to open their eyes to the sport and not stay closed minded
Latest News
Shark: The commercial and recreational harvest of tiger sharks and smooth, scalloped and great hammerhead shark is prohibited in state waters as of Jan. 1. View news release.
Several grouper including gag, red, black and more closed in Atlantic state waters Jan. 1. Will reopen May 1. View news release.
Red grouper bag limit in Gulf state waters increased from 2 to 4 fish Dec. 30. Gag grouper remains closed in Gulf through March 31.Click here for news release.
Spotted Seatrout season opened in South Florida Jan. 1. View news release.
Several management changes were made at the November 2011 commission meeting. To learn more about these changes visit the MyFWC.com/Commission page and click on "Commission Meetings" and "News Releases." Rule changes will affect the following species: Red drum, spotted seatrout, tiger shark, smooth hammerhead shark, great hammerhead shark, scalloped hammerhead shark, red grouper and gag grouper.
so where do we go fish that take the fun out of everything
oh boy lots of snapper fishing ewww
"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
I guess if there was a worry with upsetting locals by leaving a dead shark carcass to wash up on the shore it could always be kayaked out a way and attached to a brick or two, mafia stylee.
past the third gut it will get back into the food chain.......just sayin'