Marine Life

Okay How much should a guy be concerned with Whales, sea lions, porpoise's, seals ect? Ive done some research and I see that only one incident of an orca attacking a human has occurred in the wild, and that guy was not killed. 100 stitches though. I have seen videos of orcas and kayaks.. But dang, if that wouldn't make me poop! Especially since Ill be sitting in a Hobie. Thing looks like a giant topwater bait! Those orcas seem to eat a variety of things, I can't believe one day they won't try a kayaker out.

And then there is sea lions... We were out one time in a cataraft and went by a group of them on a rock. They all got into the water and went right up to the raft and they seemed ticked. They didn't do anything but they got close and made a lot of bad sounds.

I know that there are more common dangers like the weather, powerboat captains that are not paying attention, but I feel like I can prepare for that. But a huge whale taking a chomp at the yak?

Based on all of my past on the water activities in various places I have lived (Lake Havasu had the highest number of idiots per capita) the drunken power boater is the most dangerous animal on the water.   

Ok an anecdote, My daughter was fishing with me in our canoe on a very nice summer day quite close to shore and we were hooking Pinks left and right, a huge Sea Lion had been dinning there for a number of days and seemed to think of the territory as his own.  She demanded to be taken to shore immediately if not sooner when this behemoth made is usual appearance.  I calmly reminded her that we were fishing and catching and she hand not yet caught one.  Had been out 10 minutes or so, she just started freaking out and I took her in and continued to fish.  I later explained to her that the Sea Lion was getting more than his share of Salmon and was not interested in fisherman in the least, then I decided to do a web search to prove to her that the likelihood of being attacked by a Sea Lion was pretty slim.  Then I lost my argument miserably.

That being said, if the fish are biting and the Sea Lions are Feeding I don't back down, and have not had any real problems aside from stolen fish and lost gear.

Whales don't seem aggressive.

I don't have a ton of experience but I've had whales pass by closest enough to smell their breath.  I've been within 50 yards of a pod of orcas.  The thing that scared me most was a small Sea lion swooping under my kayak super fast but not aggressively. Wait, not true. The animal that came closest to killing me while on a Kayak trip was a moose that bolted in front of me on my drive down.

I take solace watching the hundreds of touring kayaks I saw going out of Seward and Whittier every time I go out.  I've NEVER heard of an incident in the area.  I will say the mirage drive does look more like a sea lion.  So whether orcas, sharks, or sea lions... Food or territory, it may up the odds a bit. Personally I am most scared of sea lions because they can be territorial, sharks (salmon and sleeper sharks) after reading about sea lion mortalities and the fact I think they hunt more instinctively.  I think the whales are smarter.  I don't have anything to really base that on.  I do know with 100% certainty that driving to the launch is by magnitudes a greater risk then any animal other than a crazy homo sapien on the water like Craig said...lol.

Have your gopro on, and IF you do have a close call AND survive, you can retire! Lol. 

As stated previously....be ware of the wildlife on the road and in the bars

When gray whales breach I'm always happy to not be below them on their way down. A tip for fishing in Depoe Bay, during tourist season whale watching is big business, they keep pretty good tabs on their location. If you see the whale watch boats (a charter with people elbow to elbow on one rail or a Zodiac) slowly motoring N or S towards your position, they're usually following a pod, so watch the parade from the sidelines and move E or W.

A big bull sea lion may pop up and try and spook you, but they usually move on. If a pair of juvenile bulls are displaying aggressive behavior they tend to get closer and more bold with each pass. I figure they have something to prove in defending their turf and their pod, so I let them win and move on. I can usually find another fishy spot and I imagine the infection caused by a bite from their filthy mouths is not worth standing my ground.

I forget which online yag rag i read about it in, but some Canadian "inventor" has come up with a sea lion repelling product. Simply a recording of Orca conversation, or simulated Orca talk. This might work for a little while until the sea lions figure it out.

A fear of lurking, hungry GWS is what swims in my paranoia.  The sunken jetty here seems like it would be a logical hangout for a Great White. A bunch of sea lions usually hangs out right on the tip of the South Jetty. So there's food, nearby deep water (sunken jetty drops off to 50'-60' on the harbor entrance side), and probably happy hunting for any GWS there. A shark wire would put that demon to rest.
Any of you other guys feel that erie music playin when you're out there, especially when alone?

First time I paddled out there, I had a large Stellar Sea Lion come over and check me out. They like to come up behind you, and this one did, about 10 feet off my stern. I turned around and looked at it and called out, "Hey there, Buddy!" and he rapidly departed.

When I was down fishing with PNW and Yaksurf on a prefish for the 2010 AOTD Tourney, I had was I believe was a California Steller sea lion pitching a fit at me on the north side of the light house at Sunset Beach.  That thing looked like the size of a grizzly bear, and made a point to show teeth at me.  I moved and he headed towards Yaksurf to further secure his fishing hole. I certainly would have lost that fight had he decided to tangle with me.   

I had was I believe was a California Steller sea lion

There are Caliornia Sea Lions and there are Steller Sea Lions, but I don't believe there are California Stellar Sea Lions.

Stellar Sea Lions get huge.  They scare me.

-Allen

Any animal that rivals an F-150 in size has my respect.

Hey, at least the mammals give you a warning.

The Landlord gives no warning at all.

I had a large stellar surface in front of me last weekend out on the Columbia, I was on the river right in front of the Vancouver Red Lion.  I was just hoping that he didn't think I was his new mate, considering I was on my dune colored Hobie  Adventure.

Yeah, Lee, with the landlord foreclosing for rent due, a shark wire would suddenly seem like a screaming deal, at any price!
I've been torturing myself watching GW vids on U-tube. The one where two GWs close in on an Aussie surfer and one chomps his arm is eye-opening, in that it shows two sharks working as a pack.
Another one shows some "shark researcher" paddling a SUP right over a large one that is swimming around him, eyeing him. The shark researcher apparently feels he "knows" enough about GW behavior to believe he is safe. My belief is that it was only "the luck of fools" that saved him. I consider all major predators to be "individuals," and with my luck, I probably will meet up with the crazy ones.

Stellar Sea Lions get huge.  They scare me.

-Allen

+1...Simpson Reef is good for the top of the chain, number one stellars in a group. Just unreal how big these monsters are and for the most part fearless. I always steer clear of them!

The one I saw was a rich medium brown color and huge. Its head was as big as a beach ball, and it was at least 10' long. I was glad it chose to leave my area.