Hitler The Hammerhead Shark In Tampa Bay?
Capt. Sean Hagen
September 7, 2011
Tampa Bay - Saltwater Fishing Report
This has been a great year for tarpon fishing in the Tampa Bay and a banner year for sharks! Whenever large pods of tarpon are present, rest assured that there is bound to be big predator sharks in the area. Hammerheads & bull sharks feeding on adult tarpon is a common occurrence every summer in Boca Grande Pass & Tampa Bay an a necessary part of nature.
There has been some talk of the research vessel Ocean 1 filming shark week down in Boca Grande. The sharkmen are determined in their quest to land the legendary hammerhead shark "Hitler". Their bait of choice, slow trolling adult size tarpon.What kind of fish takes a hundred plus pound live bait? The answer in many angler's mind would be "Hitler", but the truth is just about any 8 to 10 ft. hammerhead or bull shark.
So, dose Hitler exist? Sure he dose, there have been thousands of eye witnessed accounts of him devouring tarpon in Boca Grande Pass for decades. Tampa Bay also has her own history with the mammoth hammerhead that dates back before the World War 2.
The real truth is that Their is more than just one Hitler out there. In fact the existence of Hilter might not be as uncommon as one may think. Lets look at the facts, Hitler is said to be in the 14-20 ft range and lives in Boca Grande Pass robbing Tarpon anglers of their trophy catches.Well, First off how many people have actually seen a 14 ft shark before? A hammerhead measuring 14 ft would weigh about a 1000 lbs and creates quite a presence. Hammerheads and bull sharks are built pretty solid and have alot of girth as well as large size heads. which makes them appear larger in lengthen what they actually are. A 7 or 8 ft hammerhead or bull shark to the average angler is easily mistaken for being over 10 feet in length. so it would stand to reason that a 14 or 15 ft hammerhead might be mistaken for a 20 footer, but is likely that a true 20 ft hammerhead exists in Boca Grande or Tampa Bay? Chances are that there are a number of true 20 foot hammerheads lurking around. The gulf's great hammerhead in adulthood can reach 20 ft in length.
Dose Hitler live in Boca Grande? Sure he dose, he also lives in Tampa Bay, Anna Maria, sanibel, Captiva, the Keys and any where else there is a large population of resident or migratory tarpon. A 14 ft hammerhead is not the
norm ,but it is not uncommon either. Not to mention the only time you are going to see him is if your diving or playing tug-a-war with a tarpon. The Gulf is full of these brute size hammerheads, just go online and
checkout some aerial footage of our west florida coast line. Those long dark figures stacked around your local beach are probably big hammerheads and Bull sharks.
Just this week we lost a bruiser shark along the sand bar at Been Point and a few hours later boated a juvenile hammerhead in the Port Manatee shipping channel. So, if your looking to land Hitler or boat a big shark now is the time.Once the tarpon leave most of the big sharks will follow.
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