A new day means a new shark during “Shark Week On Fly” where we highlight 7 shark species over the course of 7 days. Yesterday we talked about the Blacknose shark, and today we will be stepping up in size to talk about the Bonnethead Shark.
The Bonnethead Shark is a small member of the Hammerhead genus. The species occurs off the American coast, in waters which are warmer than 70F.
Angler and flylords contributor Jeremy Clark talks about landing two shark species on his home waters in Charleston: “We have two solid game species of sharks here in Charleston, the Blacktip shark and the Bonnethead Shark. I have been fortunate enough to land one of each.”
“You can find Blacktips just offshore, and they can get pretty thick during certain times of the year. The Bonnets are here way up shallow all summer.”
“The Bonnet ate, ran a bunch of drag, and then the hooked popped out. It turned, around and charged straight for the boat again, eating the same fly again about 5 feet from the boat.”
“For both fish, we were throwing 12 weight rods with wire leaders and big obnoxious flies.”
Fun Fact about the Bonnethead shark: Bonnethead sharks are the only sharks known to exhibit sexual dimorphism in the morphology of the head. Adult females have a broadly rounded head, whereas males possess a distinct bulge along the anterior margin of the cephalofoil. (Don’t ask us what that means, but it sounds pretty cool!)
What about Shark Attacks??
Considered harmless to humans, this species is rather shy. There has been only one recorded unprovoked attack attributed to the bonnethead.
For more content from Jerms be sure to check him out on Instagram @jerms1977
Faces of Fly Fishing: Jeremiah Clark
Also, check out our other Shark Week Articles!
Shark Week On Fly: Blacknose Shark
Shark Week On Fly: Lemon Shark
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