1,000-pound hammerhead shark caught at Boca Grande

Port Charlotte fisherman Bucky Dennis caught a 1,060-pound hammerhead shark over 13 feet long Thursday morning in Boca Grande Pass. The 12-fathom-deep pass is known for its big tarpon and even bigger sharks. It is not uncommon for anglers to see their tarpon catches bitten in half by big bull sharks and giant hammerheads. To be more precise - great hammerheads. The species, found throughout most of the world's oceans, can reach up to 18 feet in length. In 2006, Dennis caught an even larger hammerhead - a 1,282-pound world record that made news reports around the world - in the same area. But after the fanfare died down, biologists with the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota discovered that the hammerhead was carrying a litter of 55 pups. "This shark was most likely also a female," said Brent Winner of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. "Sharks typically give birth sometime during the summer months." Terry Tomalin, Times Outdoors Editor

Bay News 9 is also reporting that on Wednesday another Florida fisherman also caught a hammerhead shark that weighs more than 1,000 pounds off Singer Island near West Palm Beach yesterday. It was almost 14 feet long.

Comments

[Bob]

A Real Fisherman wouldn't have killed that beautiful machine.

[Kenneth]

I agree Bob - a real sportsman would never kill something that large and beautiful - especially an animal that can be used for no purpose other than a trophy. Coward.

[Mo]

I don't like the fact that they killed the shark. What's the purpose?

[Kyle]

Cry me a river and then jump in it after watching oprah. He caught a 1000 pound shark. If you can do that, then you can do whatever you want with it.

[D]

Kyle, you're an idiot. There is no purpose to killing that shark.

[Kenneth]

Kyle - many of us sportsmen have wised up to the need for conservation. You're type (I can kill whatever I want, whenever I want, wherever I want) are fortunately a dying breed. Hopefully inbreeding and genetics will speed that process up.

[Mic]

These beautiful animals are seriously threatened due to environmental pressures and very slow gestation. I'm sure this animal posed a serious threat to the retard who pulled it up on the beach. Yeah right. I've been diving in Florida waters for 40 years- never had a problem with a shark, and have seen a number of them. This animal will now be thrown in the trash. What a shame- I would have loved to have swam with him if I had the chance.

[B]

Wait, who's the retard? You want to swim with that thing? Sure, and I want I to cuddle a rattlesnake and play four square with a wild chimp. I would have loved to watch you swim with it as it tears one of your limbs off.

[stpete1]

Reminds me of the 3 bozos who caught a shark off their St. Petersburg dock, a year or two back. Made the SPT, photo posed with the animal, backwards ball caps, beer guts 'n big grins, the whole enchilada. The guys told the reporter they'd been unable to sell the shark commercially and would therefore take it out offshore and dump its carcass. No sense of irony or regret, in the story. And, while they couldn't have known during the catch, I think this was a pregnant female, or one which had given birth recently, which was why it was closer to shore. "Sportsmen". Yeah, right.

[Mike]

What is the point of killing it? Oh and Kyle, the fact that you CAN do something doesn't mean that you SHOULD.

[Mike]

Sportsmen defintely NOT, but a stupid Redneck he is for sure.

[JR]

Oh Kyle how people like you are the same ones in Thailand that overfished the turtles until they were practically gone. THEN, the jellyfish went out of control due to no turtles (main diet of jellyfish there) eating the jellyfish. Now, you can't even go swimming unless you want to come out with stings from your eyes to your feet. Also the same people in the Alaska area fishing for Smelt. People told them that if they kept on killing and overfishing, no one would have a job (they were complaining that it was thier livelyhood...don't take it away from us!!!). Well what do you know, the Smelt are now almost void of the Alaskan harbor and there are about two boats doing that type of fishing compared to hundreds. So, are the fisherman going to yell at the Smelt and ask them not to take their jobs away? Unfortunitely, there are so many ignorant Kyles out there and I do beleive ignorant people outnumber the smart ones.

[JD]

Follow the link to Baynews 9 before you comment on the sportsman,

"Van der Grift said it took nearly and hour and a half to bring the fish to the boat.

He said he never intended to kill the shark. All they were hoping for was a few pictures and a quick release. But the fish was injured in the fight, became exhausted and drowned.

The shark is not a protected animal. Its organs will be flown to labs as far away as San Diego for research."

So he did not mean to kill the animal, but at least it will be used for research.

[Just an American]

I had the same thought as most of you, why kill the shark? JD cleared it all up! Pictures, can't live without that photo op! Thank goodness he was able to get his picture with the shark! Whew, almost missed out on that opportunity.

This is very unsportsman of him. I am all for fishing and catching the limit, but this is a bit much.

[CTJ]

I usually don't eat seafood but hammerhead is pretty tasty, not fishy tasting, more like chicken.

that 1000lbs could feed a lot of homeless people

[Dave]

Don't keep it if you are not going to eat it. Simple rule that should be followed by anyone claiming to be a "sportsman".

[sentinel]

This guy who killed the shark probably is a moron who works for Progress Energy, the customer parasites.

[Mic]

I've been in the water in the Keys with a hammerheads 17 feet. The shark saw us a an annoyance, but not a food source. It was a thrill to see them. If moron boy ever tasted a large shark, he would know it is like eating shoe leather, nothing like chicken. Even those considered good to eat like Makos and Thrashers are inedible when they get that size. Let them go!

[kris]

Adjust your title...

"1,000-pound hammerhead shark caught off West Palm Beach"

Wrong coast buddy he was off Boca Grande.

I agree with all of the "unsportsmanlike" comments. Despite the circumstances it's a shame this shark died.

I fish for tarpon at the Boca Grande inlet from time to time, and get a laugh at the idiots fishing off the beach for sharks. They're always out there fishing for "the big one".

This same idiot previously caught an even larger hammerhead that turned out to be pregnant w/ 50+ babies.

[kris]

...sheesh what a tool.

[Tracy]

Have the editors been fired? Spellcheck anyone?
This article had 4 typos!

[Kevin]

What a shame, never like to see the shark die, and the guy seemed like such an idiot, I guess you have to be to do something like that, and kill it. And, to whoever said the shark would tear you apart if you dove with it, I say nay, I've gone diving with shark that big, and I still have all my limbs...better than that shark!

[Kenneth]

Bay News 9 was classy enough to show video of the shark hanging with blood streaming down it's face. Keep it classy BN9!

[DaveGrinder]

Tastes like chicken? Yum, I'll have some plz.

[kujobie]

Tastes like chicken, smells like fish..