550-pound Hammerhead shark caught on Central Florida beach

[Jer]

550-pound Hammerhead shark caught on Central Florida beach


Dan Ficochello said he battled for three hours before he was able to bring the giant shark to the beach.

FLAGLER BEACH, Fla. -- A man standing on a Central Florida beach reeled in a 12-foot, 5-inch, 550-pound great hammerhead shark, likely the biggest catches ever made in the area.

"I'm still in shock at the size of this fish," angler Dan Ficochello said. "I'll never catch one bigger than that. That's a catch of a lifetime."

Ficochello said he went about 300 yards offshore in his kayak and dropped a baracuda head to the bottom of the ocean floor as bait. He then dragged his line back to the beach and waited for a bite.

Soon, the shark took the line.

Ficocello said the shark put up a ferocious fight, taking the men three hours to bring him to the beach.

"My first thought was, 'What am I going to do with this?' Because it wasn't moving, there was no chance of a release. It was done. I had never seen a shark this big before in person," Ficochello said. "It was a non-stop tug-a-war. I was worn out after an hour."

Others said they were shocked such a big shark was swimming off shore.

"You're swimming and having a good time and something like that could be just a few feet from you," angler Michael Ficocello said. "It makes you think twice. It's their home. You are intruding on their area."

[knock down]

Nice catch for sure! Ashame that she was killed! I,m Not condeming anyone out there for keeping thier fish! Just isn,t to many like her left out there . either way it's a outstanding catch for any one fishing from shore! Congradulations to the angler

[LuckyLady]

Couple years ago we were living lining bunker for bass just a little north of Island Beach State park. We had 2 thresher sharks at the boat, and hooked up in one. We were so close to the beach we could hear the life guard blowing their whistle to get out of the water once they seen the thresher at the boat.

We thought about spinning the boat and the shark towards the beach to scare some people but decided against it because of all the kids that are normally on beaches.

Hammerheads are so neat looking with thier big old eye balls, I'm looking at you!

It is a shame that it was killed I have never seen one that big, but its pretty neat to see something caught of the beach like that.

I am sure you can eat hammerhead but how does it taste?

[knock down]

NOT GOOD AT ALL!

[Deep C]

I get sad whenever I see a ol t-head taken. They are nifty to watch for sure. The sport of beach sharkin is pretty popular down here. They even have tournaments for em which I'm sure doesn't sit well with chambers of commerce. That being said its not like the old days where they were beached and jawed then left to rot. These days its over 99% release so one in the scheme of things isn't too bad I guess. A ride up and down the beach in a helicopter though will show you there is no shortage of shit eaters right off our beaches.

[Logan9581]

We get'em on our coast that makes that one look like a baby! They follow the tarpon around and snack on 150lb fish.... They also try to steal them when you have them hooked.

As Deep said, take a small plane or Heli down the beaches and see just how many there are swimming around the people!

[flatbottom]

I bet that was a trill ride !
Big Ole hammerhead.
I would like to see his leader configuration. Now that is a fish to remember.

congrats to the angler

I have been swimming in Florida. I waded out about ..up to my neck. I am bigger than the midget from cape may by a foot, so you can figure how tall I am. I think I will stick to the clear water, heated cement ponds from now on

[gradywhite273]

I hate sharks. congrats to the angler .

[tags11]

I've hear that hammerhead is some of the best tasting shark out there! maybe i'm wrong, but it's what I've heard! Awesome catch!

[Capt. Brian Daley]

I've hear that hammerhead is some of the best tasting shark out there! maybe i'm wrong, but it's what I've heard! Awesome catch!

GO eat one and have a trash can right by our side you"ll need it not good eating at all thats why its a shame it was dispatched, but nice catch a tag
in its back would have been better