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Beachgoers were surprised Friday morning when two fishermen pulled a nearly 10-foot hammerhead shark ashore, closing Ocean Reef Park for the second day in a row.

The fishermen, who left before they could be identified, released the live shark back into the ocean. The fish was not weighed, said Palm Beach County Ocean Rescue Lt. Don May, but it did measure out at 9 feet 9 inches.

The catch of the day wasn't as unusual as the beachgoers might have thought.

"It's very common for hammerheads, and other sharks, to come close to shore," said Lee Schlesinger, spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. "It's not at all unusual for them to be caught by fishermen from shore. When the bait fish come close to shore, the sharks follow the food."
Fishing for sharks and other fish from the beach is legal in designated areas, and requires a $9 annual license for Florida residents. There are exemptions for residents who are 16 and younger, senior citizens and the disabled, Schlesinger said.
Fisherman can keep one shark per day per person. Hammerheads and most other sharks must be at least 54 inches long to be kept, he said.

"The sharks that are less common have tighter restrictions," Schlesinger added.

Sharks have been gathering along Palm Beach County beaches recently in their annual chase of baitfish. Lemon, bull and hammerhead sharks often are seen off Ocean Reef Park this time of year, May said.

Lifeguards closed swimming in the park just north of the Blue Heron Bridge on Singer Island on Friday at about 9:30 a.m. when the hammerhead was pulled ashore. They reopened the beach to swimmers about four hours later.
"When they brought the shark to shore, it drew a big crowd. Everybody was standing around taking pictures," May said.
Hammerheads, with their flat T-shaped heads with an eye on each side, feed on other fish, stingrays, skates, and other sharks. The largest hammerheads grow to 15 feet and weigh more than 1,000 pounds.
After the beach was reopened to swimmers, those who braved Friday's choppy seas still had to take precautions. Yellow and purple flags were displayed warning swimmers of jellyfish, May said.

South Florida Sun-Sentinel

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/pal...0,692198.story