Smooth hammerhead sharks are found all over the world in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Anglers use several methods to catch them, including trolling, still fishing, bottom fishing, drift fishing, and surf casting. They prefer bloody or oily baits and can be brought closer to the boat by chumming.
Habitat: Ocean, Coastal Waters
How to identify Smooth Hammerhead Shark
The smooth hammerhead shark is the second biggest hammerhead shark, growing up to 16 feet long. These sharks have a distinct flat, hammer-shaped head. It is this head shape that sets smooths and other big hammerheads apart because it has an indentation in the center of its head where the front is arched. The smooth hammerhead shark has a streamlined body and is missing the ridge between their dorsal fins. The first dorsal sits high and is shaped like a sickle with a round tip, while the second dorsal has a prominent notch in the back. Their skin has flat, w-shaped scales. Most hammerheads are brown, but smooths are a drab brown-green that graduates into lighter color along the sides and white on the abdomen. These sharks may also have dark edges on the bottoms of their pectoral fins.
Where to catch Smooth Hammerhead Shark
Smooth hammerhead sharks tolerate high latitudes, whereas other species don’t. Because of this, they can be found throughout the world in areas where waters are temperate. They inhabit the Atlantic from the eastern Mediterranean to Cote d’Ivoire, British Isles to southwest Argentina up to Brazil, the Virgin Islands, and up to Nova Scotia. Though they are sometimes spotted near oceanic islands or in the open ocean, they tend to stick to inshore areas like bays and estuaries.
The following are habitats where you can catch Smooth Hammerhead Shark:
How to catch Smooth Hammerhead Shark
Smooth hammerheads are pretty common and are often targeted by commercial fishermen. Most anglers catch smooth hammerhead sharks by trolling slowly and drift or still fishing while chumming. Other effective methods include bottom fishing, drift fishing, and surf casting. Oftentimes these sharks are caught by accident when fishermen are using handlines and bottom trawls to catch other types of fish.
The following are effective fishing methods and techniques for catching Smooth Hammerhead Shark:
Best Lures, Bait & Tackle to catch Smooth Hammerhead Shark
The most popular baits to use for catching smooth hammerhead sharks oily or bloody baits, such as mackerel, jack, squid, other live fish. They can also be caught with the occasional lure.
The following are fishing lures, bait and tackle that can be used to catch Smooth Hammerhead Shark:
