Fighting the unexpected Hammer Head Shark!

We started the day off at the Ft. Desoto boat ramp. The date 10/12/10 at 1515. We were headed out into the Gulf of Mexico via Bunces Pass to a near shore artificial reef "Egmont Key Reef" N27 35.00'  W82 44.60' just south east of a barrier Island known as Egmont Key Island at the mouth of Tampa Bay!  This Island is the last land mass till you get to Mexico and separates the gulf from the bay!  We were set up with medium tackle rods: Penn 309 level winds with 20lb. test and grouper rigs with a no. 5 circle hook and cut lady fish!  I scale down my tackle for near shore grouper!  If you are wondering what is involved in a grouper rig please see the link I provided below!  I hit the reef just as the incoming tide was starting and we got quite a few grouper to the boat!  Most were between 18 - 22 inches and just under slot size, to small to make a meal so back in they went!  The bite  had slacked off and then all of a sudden my rod bent over and the drag started screaming!  The fight was on and a nice size Hammer Head shark was the prize at the end of the battle!   This explains why the Grouper bite suddenly shut off!  Those fish did not want to become that sharks next meal! I provided a video of the battle, catch and release of the shark!  ENJOY!

Grouper rig link!