PAUL & KEN IN FLORIDA KEYS DAY 3 700lb Hammerhead Shark

Well its day 3 and just to go to show you that you never know what is swimming in these waters, (Not that I would want to get out of the boat and swim in the Keys seen to many of these things for that)

There we are anchored up in one of my favorite channels, tide just turning and started to see Tarpon rolling everywhere, it was surly just a matter of time by the look at just how lively the live Mullet where bouncing around on our rigs drifted out the back of the boat. Then just as the Tarpon were getting closer to our position and baits suddenly nothing, everything stopped rolling, no signs of fish at all. Both Ken and Paul asked if the boat had spooked the Tarpon?

I was just in the mist of saying no, something else has when the left hand live bait jumped clean out of the water a couple of times before one of the biggest swirls I have ever seen. Did not see the fish just a mass explosion like no other before the reel screamed its head off.

It was Kens turn on the rods so quickly grabbing both rod and reel I screamed at him to reel down tight to set the hooks (Using circle hooks so no striking) in no time at all Ken was hanging on for dear life and desperately running out of line. I called to Peter to slip the anchor buoy as we need to chase this fish down to at least have a chance to stay in contact.

As time passed and we had travelled over 5 miles we knew that this was no Tarpon and if it was it would have had to smash every world record. Slowly the fish started to weaken, then we got our first glimpse it was a huge Hammerhead shark, the circle hook was right in the corner of the mouth, how we had not lost this fish, for we where only using conventional Tarpon fishing tackle, no wire traces. Eventually the huge shark came close enough for me to touch the leader and cut the line at the eye of the hook. Just for a moment the huge shark just laid there on her side with one eye looking up at us. I am not sure who was looking at whom but one thing is for sure it’s a fight and picture that we all will remember for a long time.

After all the excitement we returned to the channel and our anchor buoy only to find the Tarpon rolling all over the channel. Not wanting to return to the house with out a fish for Paul we replaced live mullet at the back of the boat and with in minutes Paul had his fish a nice 70LB Tarpon.

What a mornings fishing

Tight Lines Dave Plummer