RE: [Paddlewise] Sharks

> From: Bob Denton <BDenton_at_aquagulf.com>

hoo boy, here we go again.... 8-}


> I have heard of one attack in FL from a kayaker who was fishing. Left a few
> teeth in his plastic yak. 

That was Ken Johnson of Corpus Christi.  The shark bit the stern but
I do not recall Ken stating there were teeth left in the kayak (I could
be wrong, though).  I only recall his stating there were teeth "marks."  

> I was practicing rolling in the Intracoastal and as I rolled up, a large
> Bull Shark cruised by, just under the surface, about 2 feet from the end of
> my paddle. 

Experts never rely absolutely upon species identification by untrained 
eye witnesses.  Even experts say it is often difficult for they themselves to 
know absolutely type shark they are looking at above water and need to have 
the animal brought on board to make an absolute id.

> I followed it at first because I thought it was a porpoise but
> soon saw the dorsal and paddled over to the tourists and suggested they get
> their toddlers out of the water.

Which begs the question... if you thought it was a porpoise that passed
withing two feet of your kayak, how do you know it was a bull shark 
just by the dorsal fin (porpoises have dorsal fins... the "2nd dorsal fin"
identifies it as a possible shark (there are rare exceptions to this but 
the bull is not one).

> The shark cruised around for 10 minutes then headed out the inlet. I have
> always wondered what would have happened if I blew that roll?!

If it actually *were* a shark, statistcally, nothing.  The vast majority 
of sharks are harmless.  And attacks on humans are *extremely* rare among 
those that could be harmful.  Millions of people go into the water every
year, world-wide.  However, there are only about 50-75 shark attacks 
reported annually world-wide with *maybe* 8-12 fatalaties (see
http://www.mote.org/~rhueter/sharks/attacks.phtml ).


Jackie


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