Rene de Dios was a the best shark fisherman at the south beach pier in Miami Beach during the 1970's and 80's.His story is intertwined with the story of the South Florida Shark Club.For me it's an honor to share the pics and the many stories that go with them.It's difficult for me to put into words the drive and passion with which Rene fished.He was the driving force behind the shark fishing scene on that old south beach concrete pier.Everyone who met him and watched him in action was impressed with his charisma, and infected with his fervor to fish for sharks.People would come out to the pier just to watch Rene hook and fight sharks.Rene's brand of enthusiasm to catch sharks was contagious to the young man that saw him in action.The guys on the pier respected and admired him and came to him for advice with the shark fishing. I remember the first time i saw him doing battle with a shark i was mesmorized and went out and bought my first reel a Penn 60 to start shark fishing "just like Rene." To me my Penn 60 seemed puny next to that monstous 14/0 rene used but after that i knew i was on my way to becoming a red blooded shark fisherman "just like Rene" Keep in mind the pier was free and so all the guys used to go there to hang out,skateboard,surf,spearfish,but once they saw the maniac fighting a shark they too wanted to become shark fisherman.All the fisherman on the pier would watch and hear Rene "the BIG KAHUNA" as he called himself talk about the monster he's gonna catch tonight and people knew that he would do just that.Next day Rene's picture was in the Miami Herald with some big shark he'd caught just like he said he would.Rene would hound anyone with a fresh caught jack crevalle or blue runner so he could freeline it on his shark rod.Many times they would give in to the shark fisherman with fire in his eyes just to get him off there back.He was never rude just extremely driven. It got to the point when on any given summer night there would be 15 shark rods lined up on the end of the pier and Rene was the center of attention orchestrating his followers or playing a prank on one of the rookie sharkers.It's Hard to describe the vibe that was there but anyone who lived though it remembers it well.Rene had an uncanny feel for the seasons and what days of the month were gonna produce what type and size sharks. You may ask yourself why so many pictures of one guy with so many sharks but the fact was that Rene was in a league of his own,,in other words he caught so many more sharks then anyone else because he was that much more determined, that much more driven.When everyone else got tired and left at 1 or 2 am Rene would not leave til after sun up or even til high noon. At that time no one could compete with the fierceness with which he practiced his sport.Rene was a superb athlete who became a lifeguard for the city of Miami Beach municipal pool for two summers.I can't remember how many times Rene jumped off the pier to save a drowning swimmer,,at other times Rene would have to go out on a longboard to save one of our buddies whose aluminum row boat was sinking from taking a few waves over the bow while taking out shark baits.Rene was like Tarzan on the south beach pier no one could outfish him and no one was a more ballsy or as superb an athlete as Rene.Some people are born with a gift,a special talent and they only come around I believe once every century,,,just like no one has matched Michael Jordan no one has matched Rene de Dios.I miss Rene very much.
Rene became an expert not only on land but on boats as well.
Fighting a shark from a boat using a long rod was a questionable technique but it became part of his lejend.
Rene takes the lead in the University of miami shark tournament with the help of his two mates Ralph and Hass- 1989
Rene wins the Islamorada shark tornament on the world famous charter boat Kalex-Bud and Mary's marina -1983
Rene on south beach pier
Rene with another south beach shark
Rene with one his apprentice holding the sharks tail.
