RE: [Paddlewise] Shark attacks on kayakers

    I recall that back in high school in Florida, a friend's brother,
named Bruce, had gone surf fishing solo. His fish were trailing Bruce
on a stringer, which was tied around some part of his anatomy. Without
warning, along came a shark which grabbed the fish and started towing
Bruce out to sea. Bruce survived because he had a knife, and the stringer
was nylon cord.

    A friend named Jim bought a brand new pair of swim fins and tried them
out in the Florida Keys. On day one a small shark came up to Jim and bit
him on the new blue flipper. So much for the yum-yum yellow theory.

    The shark that killed Mr. Martin in southern California was judged to
be a Great White. They can exceed 16 feet in length, and are not ordinary
sharks; they are predatory killing machines. If I recall correctly, two
kayakers who disappeared off the California coast were suspected to have
been victims of a Great White, since their kayaks bore large bite marks.
The number of surfers who have been bitten by Great Whites along the
California and Oregon coasts is very significant. Bottom line: don't expect
a Great White to respect your kayak, surf board, or butt just because it's
not yum-yum yellow. GW's are equal opportunity feeders. If you are on the
water, then you are part of the food chain, and to a GW you look very tasty.

Brad (never met a GW in person, hope I never do)


Quoting Carey Parks <carey_at_jimparksfamily.com>:

> hi Social,
>
> There are many sharks in the waters around southwest Florida, and rarely do
> they show any interest in people, let along people in boats. Carey
>
> Here's the tale...
>
> At that moment, it all happened. The left side of my kayak lurched
> underwater, and my kayak was pulled upside-down instantaneously,
> before I had a chance to even realize what was going on - but I
> quickly knew what it was. A shark had grabbed my stringer and pulled
> me down.
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