At a glance
8–12 ft.
3–250 ft.
Dusk and night are prime.
23 areas
Know it
Spot it, size it up and learn its habits.
- Identification
Huge shark with a nearly straight-edged hammer head and a very tall, sickle-shaped first dorsal fin.
- Typical size
8–12 ft.
- Maximum size
About 20 ft.
- Diet
Fish, rays, crabs and squid.
- Behavior
Cruises beaches, passes, flats and reefs, often following bait and the smell of chum.
Find it
Where, when and how deep to look.
- Where to find it
Found from South Florida & Keys, Florida Atlantic Coast, Florida Gulf Coast, Northern Gulf (AL–TX), Mexico Gulf Coast, Mexican Caribbean & Belize, Central America, Colombia & Venezuela, Bahamas & Turks and Caicos, Cuba, Jamaica & Cayman, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Lesser Antilles, Aruba, Bonaire & Curaçao, Trinidad & Tobago, Georgia & South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia & Chesapeake Bay, Delaware & New Jersey, New York, Long Island & Connecticut and Rhode Island & Massachusetts. Coastal reefs, passes and beaches; follows tarpon and rays.
- Habitat
Coastal reefs, passes and beaches; follows tarpon and rays.
- Depth
3–250 ft.
- Fishing depth
From waist-deep surf to reef edges and channels.
- Best season
All year in South Florida; spring and summer are busiest along the Gulf.
- Best time
Dusk and night are prime.
- Best tides
Moving water in passes and along beaches.
- Best weather / conditions
Fishable in most conditions you can handle safely.
Bait & gear
What to tie on and what to throw.
- Best bait
Not to be targeted.
- Best artificial lures
—
- Tackle setup
Heavy spinning or conventional, 50–80 lb class.
- Hook size
10/0–16/0 non-stainless, non-offset circle hooks (required when shark fishing in Florida and federal waters with natural bait).
- Line
50–80 lb braid or mono.
- Leader
Wire or heavy cable leader longer than the shark.
BigJoe's setup for Great hammerhead
The rod, reel, line and lures BigJoe would use.
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Catch it
Step by step, from first cast to landing.
Step-by-step: how to catch it
- Go where it lives: Coastal reefs, passes and beaches; follows tarpon and rays.
- Rig up: Heavy spinning or conventional, 50–80 lb class. Wire or heavy cable leader longer than the shark.
- Pick your bait: Not to be targeted. Lures: —
- Fish it: If hooked by accident, cut the leader as close to the hook as is safe.
- Time it: Dusk and night are prime. Moving water in passes and along beaches.
- Fishing techniques
If hooked by accident, cut the leader as close to the hook as is safe.
- BigJoe's tip
Great hammerheads tire fast and die easily after a long fight — use heavy tackle or avoid areas where they hunt tarpon.
- Catch and release
Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.
Clean & cook
Is it good to eat, and how to prepare it.
- Edibility
Do not keep — protected.
- Cooking suggestions
Do not keep — protected.
Stay safe & legal
Safety, rules and taking care of the fishery.
- Safety warnings
Never pull a shark onto the sand by the tail or bring large sharks aboard. Cut the leader close to the hook if you can't remove it safely.
- Regulations
PROHIBITED in Florida state waters: no harvest, and it must stay in the water. Federal rules also restrict retention. A Florida fishing license is required unless you are exempt; Florida rules are set by FWC (myfwc.com). Federal waters fall under NOAA Fisheries. Other states and countries set their own limits — check before you keep fish.
- Conservation
Keep only what you'll eat, release the rest quickly, and follow size and bag limits.
Where it's found
Tap an area to open its fishing map.