Kayak Angler Encounters Hammerhead

[jsuber]

Kayak Angler Encounters Hammerhead
Published: Jun 9, 2007


GO FISHING is a daily look at the area fishing scene through the eyes of local charter boat captains and fishing guides. Today: Mel Berman.

Tampa kayaker Michael Rementer launched off Sanibel on Wednesday morning and found a nice happy bunch of tarpon. He hooked a monster within a few minutes and, as he was reeling it in, Rementer saw the mass of a huge 14-foot hammerhead shark protruding from under his craft.

The massive creature bumped his kayak two or three times while the tarpon found refuge under his partner's kayak. Happily, the tarpon got away and no one was hurt. Rementer said "it was the scariest day of my life," adding that "I won't be near a hooked tarpon in the Gulf of Mexico in a kayak ever again."

Kayak fishing expert Neil Taylor strongly recommends that anyone targeting tarpon in the Gulf should do so from a larger, more appropriate craft than a kayak. But if you can't resist the urge to do so, he highly recommends not going alone, to take a drift chute to slow the kayak down while fighting the tarpon, and always wear a personal floatation device the entire time.

[bman]

Kayak fishing expert Neil Taylor strongly recommends ... always wear a personal floatation device the entire time.

Because sharks really like top water...

[jsuber]

Makes it easier to find the torso.