Shark - Hammerhead
name: Shark - Hammerhead
other names: N/A
The great hammerhead shark has a wide, thick head with the eyes at the margins. The head is indented at the centre of the "hammer," which is almost rectangular in shape. This shark is grey-brown above with an off-white belly. The first dorsal fin is very large and pointed.
The great hammerhead swims in warm and relatively warm water along the coastlines. They live over the continental shelves and the adjacent drop-off to depths of about 260 feet (80 m).
The Hammerhead is a fierce predator with a good sense of smell that helps it find its prey. The great hammerhead eats fish, including rays, and other sharks, squid, octopuses, and crustaceans. The Hammerhead has been known to be cannibalistic.
The average great hammerhead shark is up to 3.5 m long. The largest reported was 6 m long. These large sharks average about over 500 pounds (230 kg) but can weigh as much as 1,000 pounds (450 kg). The Hammerheads are viviparous, giving birth to live young. The 20-40 pups are about 70 cm long at birth.
The terminal tackle may consist of an 8/0 to 16/0 hook baited with a whole fish or other bait and weighted by a heavy sinker. Strong line is required, not only because of the size of the quarry, but also because the line is subject to constant abrasion against the sand. Sturdy fiber glass rods with roller line guides are suggested with size 5/0 to 8/0 biggame reels.
