Pretty sure the “big one” was caught at the rod and reel pier and it was a hammerhead. The Great White was caught at Longboat Pass. Both were big, neither was 28” though.
Went fishing in the Tampa bays. Visiting my parents who lived in Clearwater back in 1974. Took my kid brother. Kids on the beach would tie big baits to their lines and tie balloons to their line to get the bait way out there. To catch hammerheads was there response when asked.