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Capt. Ralph Delph and Barbara Martin with
world record Tiger Shark on 12# test line.
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Off in
the distance, in that scent corridor, a faint shadow appears. All of a sudden
there is a nuclear submarine throwing a bow wake, heading straight for the
boat, only 50 yards away. Before your mind can think, "no, it's a giant
hammerhead shark", a beast of mammoth proportions is at the bow of the boat
and is ripping the barracuda chum from the rope. The boat shudders as the
rope and the barracuda separate. Three feet of dorsal fin protrudes above
the water, the tip of which extends well above the gunwale of the boat.
Shark fishing fever has struck. You stand there in awe, not realizing that
the orange fly has fallen from your hand, into the water. With a
swirl of the tail, white water and spray leave you soaking wet. A hole in
the water large enough to engulf your lawnmower forms where the shark was.
The thing has eaten your fly and is now moving away. As it disappears, its
abrasive skin sands through your tippet and your line goes slack. You stand
there and wonder, "Did I just have a nightmare?" Sounds like fantasy? Not
quite! Ask some of the hard core shark fishermen that frequent the waters
of Key West.
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Jim Eckhart with 310# Bull Shark caught
on 10# test spinning tackle with artificial lure.
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Jim Eckhart
of Miami landed a 976# hammerhead that now resides in the "Miami Beach Rod
and Reel Club". Replica mounts hang in "Sea World" in Orlando, the Key
West aquarium,
and the "Miami Seaquarium". The six largest fish ever taken on fly tackle,
all bull sharks, over 360#, the largest of which was 386#, were taken in
these waters. Although our boats have had hundreds of shark attacks while
fighting these brutes, I have never lost an angler. Most people that are
new to this sport report feeling more like survivors than participants.
Our boats are now equipped with large holding tanks capable of bringing
in sharks over 300# for fishing tournaments, world records, etc. They are
then weighed and released alive. If you really want excitement, bring your
video camera and come "Shark Fishing", Key West style. |
