Chummed in numerous small sharks and had a 3' one on when all of a sudden a hammerhead about 10' long started trying to attack the smaller shark. I kept the small one on top of the water making it tough for the hammer to get on top of him and bite him (posting a few poor quality photos below - friend filmed one of the passes the hammerhead made... if you look real close in the bottom left frame you can make out the small shark and the hammerhead coming up to say hi).
After about two violent circles around the boat the hammerhead actually came up to the edge of the boat and looked at me and the two friends that were fishing with me. He was amazingly UN-shy and I would be lying if I didn't admit it was a little spooky
After getting the evil eye I thought maybe it might be time to quit playing and let the small shark down a foot or two below the surface and after I let him down he was short lived. Fought the hammerhead for about 5 seconds and I don't think he even had the hook in his own flesh, just the prey in his mouth. Made short work of the 100lb mono I was using as a leader. Reason for the post is that I haven't heard many folks talk about hammerheads in our neck of the woods. Been out to the closer platforms / reefs with friends a number of times and hooked blacktips and bulls but this was the first hammerhead I've seen firsthand in the big bend area.
Common or uncommon? Definitely interested in knowing if I am likely to see them on a regular basis offshore... don't have ANY desire to keep one as a pet
but would enjoy taking family and friends out for the "shock and awe" factor. Might even have to make a special trip out with the mother-in-law and see if I can talk her into swimming! 
(from a former squid).
