Shark attacks kayak anglers.

You guys seen this? Doesn't look fun to me!

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/viewmedia/67405

-Jason

Doesn't look like they had Shark Shield.  Wonder what they woulda paid for one right about then.

Doesn't look like they had Shark Shield.  Wonder what they woulda paid for one right about then.

Talk about a shark pit! Seems like all a shark shield is gonna do is tell you there's somthin big in the water. Although information is power, if it's a known shark pit, you take your own chances, shark shield or no. No guarantees, but that's why I like huggin the rocks or stay'n in the kelp. My theory is: if the birds & pinnipeds start acting squirrely &/or the hair starts standing up on the back of my neck, I'm gonna be looking around while changing locations in a timely manner. 

I think about it now and again when out in the salt, but I always figure if its my time, its my time.  Kind of like getting on an airplane and taxiing down the runway.

 It would be nice though to have some kind of "stun/concussion grenade type device?" to toss in the water as a last resort. Not with the intent to harm the shark, just to drive it away and let it know you prefer to catch dinner not be dinner.

When you say "stun/concussion grenade type device", I'm thinking waterproof M-80 tossed over board. 

I've been considering picking up a cheap set of aluminum ski poles from GoodWill for $3 and making one into semi sharp poke stick to have lashed on board when I get to playing in the salt.  Probably never need it, but never know when a sea lion or shark will need a sharp stick in the nose to get the point that I am not friendly.

I always wonder what I would do. I think a nice whack with the sharp edge of a carbon paddle would put him off a bit.

I read the story of the kayaker who got flipped by a white in college cove, Trinidad, CA.
He jabbed the white with his paddle while upside down, and the next thing he knew, he was 30 feet from his boat swimming in the water. whitey whacked him with his tale after the jab and sent him flying!

In Humboldt sometimes I carried a .22 pistol on board for a myriad of reasons. halibut, sharks, meth-heads, & pot farmer snipers. I actually saw a bankie and a boater fist fight over fishing territory on the Mattole. I left when the bankie went to his truck to retrieve his gun to settle the matter.

I'm sure glad that I didn't have any explosive/firearm with me when that baby Grey Whale came to visit!  As shaken as I was, I'd have either accidentally injured an innocent and beautiful animal or worse (and more likely), I'd have blown a hole in my kayak.

I do occasionally get "the willies" when out surfing or kayaking alone.  Sometimes I can write it off other times, I just head for shore.   

i hear you. i hardly ever think about it unless i'm alone. then the theme song from jaws repeats in my head over and over.

I'd have either accidentally injured an innocent and beautiful animal or worse (and more likely), I'd have blown a hole in my kayak.

Word. Plus there's been only one kayak fatality due to GWS attack in the 20th century. Them's some ridiculously good odds.

I do occasionally get "the willies" when out surfing or kayaking alone.  Sometimes I can write it off other times, I just head for shore.

For sure. When your spider senses are tingling best course of action is to listen to them. Become very observant if you're going to continue fishing or head for shore. It's surprising how much we as humans still have our instinctual warning systems.

I've had a few run in's w/ GWS in my day and it's amazing how you just get this weird feeling something's up. That whole "it's quiet... too quiet" feeling. Had my feelings reinforced when I later saw sharks in the water with me or later when I got out of the water.

Z

Wonder if a hardy shot of straight stream capsicum pepper spray would work on GWS? I used to carry it in the woods while cruising timber in case of bear attack.

In Humboldt sometimes I carried a .22 pistol on board for a myriad of reasons. halibut, sharks, meth-heads, & pot farmer snipers.

Pot farmer snipers? wow. doesn't seem they'd get away with that for long without drawing some serious attention from the law enforcement community. For tweekers I'd prefer using a nice stout genuine Irish blackthorn shillelagh with leather loop strap upside their head til my arm got tired.

Should the GWS thread be combined with this one?

the problem with pepper spray is it allways gets you too! especially with a light breeze in the wrong direction. also sharks have that protective lens that covers the eye when they bite.

from what i remember of my OC classes from Tx. DPS, it would take a truckload of OC in the nearby water to even begin to affect the sensory organs of a shark species.dilutes way too easily...stuff has got to be airborne and contact dry or partially dry membranes to be effective...and the usual "dose rating" in those little cans, is normally only 10-12%..am thinking bear repellant is roughly 12-18%.. GWS version?? oh, man, that i'd have to see...

Hey Zee, did you notice the brand of kayak he was paddling peddling?

Brian 

Hey Zee, did you notice the brand of kayak he was paddling peddling?

Brian 

Yeah, freaky. I'm just glad it went for the white one and not the green one. 

Z

Pot farmer snipers? wow. doesn't seem they'd get away with that for long without drawing some serious attention from the law enforcement community. For tweekers I'd prefer using a nice stout genuine Irish blackthorn shillelagh with leather loop strap upside their head til my arm got tired.

Should the GWS thread be combined with this one?
[/quote]

I never really saw or had issues with snipers. i knew two people (retired sheriffs) who had been shot by them. I heard stories, and even read a story a year or so ago in STS about some guys getting sniped at while drifting the eel, but it did not mention farmers, just a random dude who drove up and starting shooting at their camp in the middle of the night.

it was only a mild concern in wilderness areas and i never had a problem.

tweakers on the other hand scared the crap out of me.

sorry to drift so far from the topic!