We (meaning-daddy—me--and son Dan) started out that Sunday morning as usual---4:30 AM. I had not been to sleep since Thursday and only 2 ½ hours then—(that’s a Delany trait). I had the 24 foot boat loaded and ready to go. I had all my MAN toys in place and had just bought a New piece of electronic navigational equipment. JERRY !!; Ya Gotta Stop Here And Tell Them That Part.

OK—ok—This equipment is called a Loran C navigational system and allows you to go to the same spot each time you wish to while in the ocean. Allot like some cars are equipped with today—GPS system. The new unit was not the problem,--the problem was that I took $3000 out of savings and bought it without—"TALKING IT OVER---GETTING THE OK WITH WIFE PAT". Twenty years later I still hear about buying that unit,---BUT,---it paid for it’s self in one day’s fishing. Pat still says; "JERRY,---THAT’S NOT THE POINT,---YOU DID IT WITHOUT TALKING IT OVER!!" She is right Buuutt, it still paid for itself,---I’m still trying to make RIGHT what I did WRONG,,--MAN THING----..OK—ok—now the story.

We leave the dock in pitch black darkness and are going about 25 to 30 MPH---heading out into the ocean. I know where I’m going and how to get there. I want to be the first fisherman on this Hot Spot. When running a boat that fast at night, you take a chance of running over a 300 pound Sea Turtle sleeping on top of the water, logs and drift wood or sail boats with no running lights on. Now,--- I’m standing up driving with the wind and salt spray in my face. I can taste it on my lips and "FREEDOM" passes through my small brain. I don’t run over anything and we get to the Special fishing spot. It’s turning daylight and I yell out "LINES DOWN".—that means---start fishing. Son Dan (real young)is on one side at the stern and daddy is on the other. I’m still at the wheel,--checking out my New Toy. They are bringing in good big fish every time the bait hits bottom,--bottom being 129 feet deep. We fish like that for about 30 minutes and daddy decides to get a cup of coffee. Now its just Dan fishing,---I’m still playing with the New Toy. Dan let’s out a LOUD YELL!!---" WHAT IS THIS COMING AT THE BOAT"—-I look back and all I can see is a Large Black Object. It gets closer and Dan yells again,---"IT’S A HAMMER HEAD SHARK,---AND HE’S BIG,--NO,,-I MEAN BIGGgg.!!

Dan is standing at the stern of the boat yelling out,--"HIS HAMMER (head)IS WIDER THAN THE BACK OF THE BOAT." The shark rubs the starboard side (right side) of the boat and is BIG. I’m still at the wheel---and as it comes by—it rolls it’s head up and shines it’s teeth at me. The dorsal fin (top fin) is 4 inches taller than the gunnel (to railing) of the boat. I reached out and slid my fingers along its rough hide as it swims to the front of the boat. The head of the shark is now past the bow of the boat and Dan yells again,--"THERE IS STILL MORE COMING,--HIS TAIL HASN’T GOTTEN HERE YET." Now remember ,---the boat is 24 foot long,---so picture the size of this shark and how big around he is. Note: In all my years of fishing I had never seen a shark this large.

The shark swims off and goes down. Daddy and I look at each other as much as to say,---What Now?? Dan is a whole lot shaken up,--so daddy and I talk, I turn to Dan and yell; "PAPA SAYS THAT THE SHARK WAS JUST CURIOUS,---HE’S NOT MEANING TO EAT YOU." That’s the same answer I got from daddy when the Gator was behind me on the Shrimping Trip…

We talk with son Dan and had to impress upon him one major thing,---"DON’T TELL MAMA VIRGIE ABOUT THIS,--SHE WILL GET ALL UPSET AND START YELLING,--THE WHOLE TOWN WILL HEAR HER AND WONDER WHAT HAS GONE WRONG AT THE DELANY HOUSEHOLD."

Years later we did tell the story to Mama Virgie and Dan’s Mom,--their comments,---if you’re crazy enough to go in the ocean that far then expect the unexpected to happen. Be sure to pay you insurance premium.!

Jerry Delany

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