The official NW GWS thread

I've also seen left over seal parts off Cape Arago. Does anyone know if whites will hunt under a kelp canopy? I've dove before with the theory that whitey is an open water swimmer & won't ordinarily come into the forest. As I've grown older, I've become more cautious about that theory, especially after having seen bit in half seal carcasses (about the same size as me) otw. Any reports of them attacking yaks? I get a little nervous around Orcas also.

Here's the most recent great white kayak attack that I'm aware of.  This happened at Dillon Beach in Sonoma County, CA

http://www.sharkresearchcommittee.com/pacific_coast_shark_news.htm

As for kayak anglers being attacked by a great white, NCKA member Dans964 had his kayak bitten just south of San Francisco last year.

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?page=Kayak_Fisherman_Survives_Great_White_Shark_Attack!

Hey!  This ain't funny.  Somebody at the Cape Kiwanda Kayak Classic told me sharks don't eat plastic.  What's up with this stupid fish!  Got me a fish whacker for Christmas.  Atleast now I'm armed....

fish whacker?? you talking a fish billy or a bang stick or what?

funny this came up again, just left the associated press web site, and the top story there is a western austrailia man missing after being attacked by a shark while snorkeling with his son.

haven't seen anything U.S. related in a while tho.

Everything you need to know about west coast shark attack/siting incidents ... http://www.sharkresearchcommittee.com/pacific_coast_shark_news.htm

-Allen

guess i wasnt looking in the right places, ....but then how often do i go out beyond the sound?

Here's the most recent great white kayak attack that I'm aware of.  This happened at Dillon Beach in Sonoma County, CA

Thats what you get for paddling in a spot known as the shark pit.  Great halibut fishing in that spot but you'll never find me there! 

Been thinking about my post regarding the fish whacker and the shark.  With my luck I'd land a freak knockout blow to an endangered species shark, and of course it all would be caught on video by some greenie meanie with a waterproof digital camera.  8 X 10 color glossy photos with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one explaining how each one was to be used as evidence against us.  Yes sir.  A case of blind justice.

Good thing I don't have to register that fish whacker I don't have....

Does anyone know if whites will hunt under a kelp canopy?

Nope. They're too big and would get tangled and drown. They do like hunting around them though.

IMO fishing sharky spots is just dumb.. "shark shield" or not.. You'll realize that about 90% of the attacks occur in well known sharky spots. Whether it's their ignorance or not I don't know but you don't need to be a rocket scientist to figure out it ain't smart.

I don't fish spots that are known shark hangouts so I don't worry about them.

Z

I don't fish spots that are known shark hangouts so I don't worry about them.

Z

I've got news for you Z- That reef off Cascade head is pretty darn sharky....  There's even been attacks on surfers in PC.
I haven't found any good offshore fishing areas that aren't sharky.

Tillamook Head - I watched a shark with a 2'+ dorsal fin cruise by.  Also had an attack on a surfer 2 years ago
Cape Falcon - Multiple attacks on surfers and watched a white demolish a huge sealion from the lineup. 
Canon Beach sea stacks - Well known White attack with lots of sightings.

The way I see it, when it's your time, it's your time. 

Seriously.  I definitely remember somebody saying sharks don't eat plastic.  You guys are just trying to spook me.  See what happens as soon as a guy commits to AOTY 2009.

Seriously.  I definitely remember somebody saying sharks don't eat plastic.  You guys are just trying to spook me.  See what happens as soon as a guy commits to AOTY 2009.

There's bite marks on the yak. http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?page=Kayak_Fisherman_Survives_Great_White_Shark_Attack! It's like getting struck by lightning. Like Spot said: when it's your time, it's your time. If someone, whatever species, tries to take me out, I'm gonna do my best to take them with me, although in the end, it is one dance we do alone (Jackson Brown). I guess I'll still feel OK diving under the canopy & keep my eye peeled on the edge.

I've got news for you Z- That reef off Cascade head is pretty darn sharky....  There's even been attacks on surfers in PC.

With all due respect, growing up in the red triangle in Cali, Oregon is pretty mellow. I know there's a healthy population of GWS in OR but if you look at the last 18 or so years on the shark research committees records the bulk are from the triangle. I have a feeling you've spent quite a few days in the water in or eh?

http://www.sharkresearchcommittee.com/90s_table.htm
http://www.sharkresearchcommittee.com/2000.htm

A good thing to note is in the 20th century there's only been one fatality on a kayak.

The way I see it, when it's your time, it's your time. 

No doubt about that.

Z

yeah....whitey....i saw jaws when i was 4 and i've been paranoid ever since. When I lived in Humboldt, CA, 3 people were killed in 3 years...all ab divers in stupid spots. two surfers were struck in that same time period around the jetties on humboldt bay.

We even had one go 3 or 4 miles up the mad river estuary.

That being said, I spend allot of time surfing/in the water at river mouths, and I've never seen a shark. I do keep a 1st nations symbol for the circle of life on my kayak, just to remind me that if i do get chomped, it's ok.....circle of life man, circle of life. I'll make a tasty meal!

I don't think sharks attack yakers on purpose. If they wanted to kill or eat us, they would. 99% of what I've seen with yakers is that the shark is just checking them out. Since a shark doesn't have hands, the only way it can figure out what you are is to nibble. Most of what I've seen is nibbles & bumps.

Kayaks don't give the same electrical signals as living creatures, so it's more curiosity than anything.....unless you were floating in the middle of a bunch of blood and seals....Then the shark would probably hit out of confusion or frenzy.

The thing i always try and remember is that they are just fish, not evil doing monsters trying to kill us

With all due respect, growing up in the red triangle in Cali, Oregon is pretty mellow. I know there's a healthy population of GWS in OR but if you look at the last 18 or so years on the shark research committees records the bulk are from the triangle. I have a feeling you've spent quite a few days in the water in or eh?
Z

Yes sir, I have spent a ridiculous amount of time in the water in Or.

As for # of reports and attacks, I wonder how the ratio changes when you factor in total man hours spent in the ocean?  Just 15 years ago, I knew pretty much every surfer on the north coast.  Of them, 3 had been assaulted by sharks.  Strikes me that if as many man hours were spent in the ocean in Oregon over the last 18years, that ratio would be much closer. 

Seriously.  I definitely remember somebody saying sharks don't eat plastic.  You guys are just trying to spook me.  See what happens as soon as a guy commits to AOTY 2009.

No worries AMB!  Sharks don't eat plastic.  They just chew on it to get to the meat filling.  Lol!