Local News - Flagler Beach Man Catches 12 Foot Hammerhead Shark

What a sad ending to such a rare and magnificent species. Does Mr.Ficocello know that in the last 10 years, Hammerhead sharks have declined by 85% and are now considered as an endangered species? I recommend that he watches the 2 excellent documentaries SHARKS:STEWARDS OF THE REEF and SHARKWATERS and am sure that unless his ego boost blinds him, he would than regret having killed this awesome shark.
We need to protect these creatures before it is too late.

What a sad story. What a senseless killing. This fisherman has wasted the life of a graceful, beautiful animal. A thoughtful person would have released the shark, at least given it some chance to survive. It's time for fishermen to rethink their attitude toward these magnificent sharks, many species of which are rapidly disappearing from our oceans as they're slaughtered for their fins, or killed as by-catch in other commercial fisheries. It's time for people to educate themselves about sharks and their valuable role in our oceans.

WOW- the first two posts said it all, so DITTO....

Alex -The Sharkman wrote:

What a sad ending to such a rare and magnificent species. Does Mr.Ficocello know that in the last 10 years, Hammerhead sharks have declined by 85% and are now considered as an endangered species? I recommend that he watches the 2 excellent documentaries SHARKS:STEWARDS OF THE REEF and SHARKWATERS and am sure that unless his ego boost blinds him, he would than regret having killed this awesome shark.
We need to protect these creatures before it is too late.

You are absolutely right, they are magnificent creatures! Maybe it will help for you to know that they are not rare around here, and this story is full of inacuracies. If I may make some corrections: Mr. Ficocello was not on a boat he was fishing in the surf, and no-one helped him reel the fish in. He is an angler and a sportsman and it was a "fair fight". As is often the case with big fish, the fish "fought itself out" and was not killed, but died. When fishing, there is little control over the species that takes your bait; he did not set out to kill a hammerhead.

I think that people should start using the catch and release, yes the shark was a good catch but you should have took pictures and then turned it loose, that is why the wildlife and fish are on endanger list or no longer on earth for our grandkids or greatgrand kids to see. People are killing this planet and now we need to stop.

What did Mr. Ficocello get out of the hammerhead?
Food?

I agree with Alex the Sharkman!

I hope the rest of the shark meat was put to good use and not just wasted. Check out www.Sharkwater.com for more information on saving sharks. I saw Sharkwater on a trip to Savannah, you should catch this amazing documentary at a theater near you(in Jacksonville theaters tomorrow, nationwide Nov. 2). S.O.S.(Save our Sharks) Thank you.

You can't release a dead animal.

During the interview it showed that he cut off the head & is keeping it in a freezer. The fisherman said he buried the body since he had to way to get it moved.
I couldn't believe how excited the fisherman was about his catch, I was appalled at the whole interview.

Is there anything we can do to get some rules and regulations on this issue. Does anyone do any research. I have an offshore fishing boat, and frequently fish offshore, and have dive buddies go out with me, and we all know that the sharks are almost gone. They have been the main predators of the ocean for 450 million years, and now due to humans, they are quickly becoming distinct. We have killed over 90% of the sharks in the last 100 years. PLEASE GO SEE THE MOVIE SHARKWATER, It explains everything about what is going on, and it is a great movie as well. I can understand the excitement of pulling in the big fish, but if there were laws on this issue, or if he had been more educated on this, I feel he would have probably let him go. Yes, the body was burried, not used for anything, the head was used as a sick trophy. If we are going to enjoy our beautiful gift of the oceans lets at least know more about it. SAVE OUR SHARKS......
http://www.sharkwater.com
http://www.sharks.org/
http://www.savingsharks.com/
http://www.seashepherd.org/

Sorry that should be extinct, not distinct.

Karen wrote:

<quoted text>
Maybe it will help for you to know that they are not rare around here, and this story is full of inacuracies. If I may make some corrections: Mr. Ficocello was not on a boat he was fishing in the surf, and no-one helped him reel the fish in. He is an angler and a sportsman and it was a "fair fight". As is often the case with big fish, the fish "fought itself out" and was not killed, but died. When fishing, there is little control over the species that takes your bait; he did not set out to kill a hammerhead.

I cannot believe I am reading this!! "the fish fought itself out and was not killed, but died" so the fisherman is not responsible for its death according to you? The shark just lost the fight! What a sad and idiotic excuse. You also say that fishermen have little control on what they catch..(wrong again.. good fishermen fish for specific targets..) but you do not say that they have a choice to cut the line and release the catch.
This was nothing more than a Macho act. A total waste of an awesome shark, whose head will go on Mr.Ficocello's wall. Makes me sick.

One last point... Maybe Hammerheads are common in your area...which they are not... does not mean that they are not an endangered species world wide. I advise you to do some reading.

Shark Powered

The Sharkman
Sharkman's World Organization
(To Save & Protect Sharks)
www.sharkmans-world.org

Great catch but you win the weekend idiot award.
You shouldn't have killed a fish that big. It's not like it's something really good to eat. Take some pictures and let it go for the next guy to catch. This isn't the 1960's.
Learn conservation and common sense before you go fishing again!

Great catch but you win the weekend idiot award.
You shouldn't have killed a fish that big jackass. It's not like it's something really good to eat. Take some pictures and let it go for the next guy to catch. This isn't the 1960's.
Learn conservation and common sense before you go fishing again!

Sharkwater has nothing to do with recreational fishing or Florida.

Go to China and stop them from eating shark fin soup and leave the sportsman alone

You are right John, Sharkwater doesn't specifically mention Florida or recreational fishing. But it certainly does have something to do with it. It brings an awareness to everyone, just to be mindful of how and what you fish for. If you do catch a shark such as Mr. Ficocello and if it is "too late" to release it at least do something with the meat -- it shouldn't be wasted, that's pointless. According to what I've read here the shark body was buried, maybe the meat could have been given to an animal shelter or someone else could have eaten it. I like fishing too and sportsman (there are great ones out there) just need to make sure they don't kill what they or someone else can't eat. We all, no matter if we're in China or anywhere else in the world, need to be aware and be careful of what we're doing with our environment.

Hey Bud, grow some balls and release the shark next time, it was a needless and totally unnessecary killing. I myself captian charters out of the Florida Keys and I know from experience that the shark does have the ability to survive after a tough fight so no excuses.

Save Our Sharks wrote:

Is there anything we can do to get some rules and regulations on this issue. Does anyone do any research. I have an offshore fishing boat, and frequently fish offshore, and have dive buddies go out with me, and we all know that the sharks are almost gone. They have been the main predators of the ocean for 450 million years, and now due to humans, they are quickly becoming distinct. We have killed over 90% of the sharks in the last 100 years. PLEASE GO SEE THE MOVIE SHARKWATER, It explains everything about what is going on, and it is a great movie as well. I can understand the excitement of pulling in the big fish, but if there were laws on this issue, or if he had been more educated on this, I feel he would have probably let him go. Yes, the body was burried, not used for anything, the head was used as a sick trophy. If we are going to enjoy our beautiful gift of the oceans lets at least know more about it. SAVE OUR SHARKS......
http://www.sharkwater.com
http://www.sharks.org/
http://www.savingsharks.com/
http://www.seashepherd.org/

You know what I hate? When somebody sees a movie, and then they think they are an expert. If I made a movie about how ink pens somehow led to the demise of, I don't know, rat terriers, there would be tens of thousands of self righteous pricks like you running around trying to get ink pens banned. Just because you saw a movie made by somebody clearly biased and misinformed doesn't give you the right to bash this guy. I just spent a week on Daytona Beach and there were 7 shark attacks in just those 5 days that my wife and I were there. So much for the shark population decreasing. Maybe you should try getting your information from a legitimate source, someone who doesn't have an agenda perhaps? My wife and I had the pleasure of meeting Danny Ficocello and his wife qnd son on our plane ride home and I can promise you that this man is far from the shark-slaying monster thqt you PETA buffoons are t5rying to make him out to be. As far as catch and release is concerned, what is the point in throwing back a dead animal? Talk about a waste. He is a fisherman and he made the catch of a lifetime, why can't you bleeding-heart jerks just back off and let him enjoy it? Remember, it's people like you that made this a controversy, you caused the publicity and now you cant even let the guy enjoy his 15 minutes in peace. Besides if you really want to protest something worthwhile, check out www.petakillsanimals.com and get the real story on your "animal loving" buddies.

Alex -The Sharkman wrote:

What a sad ending to such a rare and magnificent species. Does Mr.Ficocello know that in the last 10 years, Hammerhead sharks have declined by 85% and are now considered as an endangered species? I recommend that he watches the 2 excellent documentaries SHARKS:STEWARDS OF THE REEF and SHARKWATERS and am sure that unless his ego boost blinds him, he would than regret having killed this awesome shark.
We need to protect these creatures before it is too late.

I get so suspicious when people start throwing out statistic. Did you know that 48.7% of them are made up on the spot?

But I am in agreement with you that killing them accomplishs little more than depleting God's creation. If you aren't going to eat it and it's not harming anyone, leave it be!

Captian Cortez wrote:

Hey Bud, grow some balls and release the shark next time, it was a needless and totally unnessecary killing. I myself captian charters out of the Florida Keys and I know from experience that the shark does have the ability to survive after a tough fight so no excuses.

Off topic, maybe-
First I thought your name was captia, but then I saw where you said you captian charters. You may want to talk to the people who do your business cards and have them check the spelling for you, captain.