This is my first post and I am a relatively new to the sport, a beginning?kayaker of just under 1 year. I was reading about the shark attack and well I want to hear what all of you experienced kayakers say. I have read about the color theory and YUM YUM Yellow ( not my favorite color as of now) and also about the Zebra stripes as being a deterrent. My inquiry is What do you do. Have you ever been in close proximity with a dangerous shark. What did you do and why? Is there anything to avoid or that is an indicator other than fish and mammals getting out of the water. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Where do you paddle? I encounter small bonnethead sharks pretty often in the shallows and larger hammerheads on a rare occasion in the surf off Georgia, USA. Nurse sharks are very common in the Florida Keys. I stay in the boat and leave them alone and they stay out of the boat and leave me alone. Jim et al On Apr 25, 2008, at 8:04 PM, socalseakayak_at_aol.com wrote: > This is my first post and I am a relatively new to the sport, a > beginning?kayaker of just under 1 year. I was reading about the > shark attack and well I want to hear what all of you experienced > kayakers say. I have read about the color theory and YUM YUM Yellow > ( not my favorite color as of now) and also about the Zebra stripes > as being a deterrent. My inquiry is What do you do. Have you ever > been in close proximity with a dangerous shark. What did you do and > why? Is there anything to avoid or that is an indicator other than > fish and mammals getting out of the water. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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. We have been PFD surfing with the tide out of passes in the mangroves and had small 3 foot sharks swimming between out legs as we walked back to the cut from just outside. Folks who fly aircraft along the shore mention how many large sharks can be seen from that vantage point. I guess my point is that a shark being around doesn't mean it will be coming for you. But of course it doesn't mean it's not either. Here's a recent tale from another member of our paddling club. Yeah, he admits he did some dumb things, and posted it as a lesson to share with others. Again, the point is that while it's best to avoid interactions with wild animals for many reasons, if one does occur it is not an automatic death sentence. Take what precautions you will, but enjoy the paddling. The standard cevat applies - "Your mileage may vary!" Carey Here's the tale... I sat there, close to the opening, trying to decide which part of this fairly large hidden lake to go to first. I was about 15' from the mangroves to my left, and maybe 50' to 75' from the mangroves to my right. At that moment, I saw a large wake coming from the mangroves to my right, and heading straight for the bow of my kayak. All that I had on my mind, at this point, was snook & reds. My first thought was "Snook! BIG snook!". The wake crossed the bow, and did a 90 degree turn to the left, no more than 2 feet from the side of my kayak. I readied myself to cast my lure ahead of the fish, to "lead" it, when the wake seemed to disappear. 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. My spray skirt had been off, so in an instant, my kayak was half-full of water, and I was in the water with the shark, with the kayak drifting away from me. I took a couple of strokes & grabbed the kayak, scrambling to pull myself up onto the hull of my upside- down boat. I wanted to be OUT of that water, and NOW. My only thought was, how much my kicking legs must look like fish on a stringer. The thing I didn't realize was, the huge splash that I made, and the solid resistance of the weight of the kayak on the stringer of fish, must have scared the shark off. All I knew was, it was somewhere close by. As I climbed onto the kayak, it sank at my end, filling it with more water, so I did the "cowboy crawl" toward the center of the boat, to balance it, all the while, keeping my arms & legs on top as much as possible. I reached around to the front deck, where I had the stringer clipped, and unclipped it, throwing the clip away from the kayak. I didn't want that shark to start pulling the kayak around again, since I had a pretty tenuous grasp on the boat at this point. Now that I was in a "relatively safe" position, I had a chance to assess my situation. I was unhurt, balancing on top of my upside- down kayak, with my paddle, chart, and water bottle drifting slowly away with the outgoing tide. I was in a hidden lake, where no passing boat could ever see me. I was going to need that paddle. I hadn't seen the shark's wake since before everything started happening, and all was quiet, so I decided to go for it. I slipped back into the water & swam over to the paddle, then swam back to the kayak with it. Nothing was happening (ie - I wasn't being bitten!), so I decided to stay in the water & swim the kayak to the mangrove shoreline. The mangroves were thick, with no beach area to speak of, and the water was fairly deep right up to within about 6' or so of their roots. There were enough roots to keep me from sinking into the muck, so I started emptying the water from my kayak. It was then, that I saw that the stringer was still attached to the kayak, having gotten tangled up in the deck bungees! I pulled on the stringer, and to my horror, I saw that the fish were still there! Shark bait!!! I quickly stuffed them into the cockpit behind the seat, and continued to empty the water out, as quickly as possible. You have no idea of the relief I felt, when I was once again able to climb into that cockpit. I finished clearing the water out with my sponge, then paddled back out the creek, in a vain attempt to find my chart and water bottle. I had spare charts, a submersible GPS and VHF radio, and they were both still functioning properly. At this point, the situation had passed, so there was no need to call anyone, and I knew exactly where I was, so I headed back to camp by the shortest possible route. Somehow, I just didn't feel like fishing any more that afternoon. After getting back to camp, I took my first good look at the fish that were on that stringer. There was a bite mark that measured 5 1/2" wide, cut cleanly about 1" deep on one side, with small lacerations matching that size on the other side. I "guesstimated" the size of the shark to be in the 5' to 6' size range. A few people at camp asked me if I was done with kayak fishing, or what I would do differently. No - I am not done with kayak fishing, but I AM done with stringers. I was aware that a shark could come along & grab fish off of a stringer, but for some reason, I thought that there would be more warning - like tugs on the line, that sort of thing. That rushing wake was my only warning, and I didn't recognize it. Anyone that kayak fishes solo, as I do, would be wise to have securely attached to them or their kayak, a waterproof GPS and VHF radio. (cjp - he goes on, but that's the gist of it.) *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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Brad said (snip): > 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. The guy was swimming in an area the GW has been know to come in to and feed, looking for seals. He didn't deserve what happened, but he was directly transiting through the GW's brunching grounds. Do these swimmers not keep together and employ chase boats? The two paddlers who disappeared off the California coast (Point Dume) were never officially listed as shark attack victims, I don't think (never saw the coroner's report), rather shark expert John McCosker reached that conclusion while local paddlers and kayaking experts disagreed with the conclusion of McCosker, who himself was part of a feeding frenzy - by the media. The one kayaker who's body was recovered, Stoddard, as well as later the other paddler that went missing, have had both their names removed from the shark attack files according to Jackie, our past list mom. I'd intended to do some sleuthing on this Point Dume dissapearence for a possible corrective article for Sea Kayaker Magazine for a pre killer-shark hype season, but wanted to include a variety of other incidents, some real, some hypothesized, and all needing some balance, but haven't had time and wasn't sure about the efficacy of such an article. I see Wavelength beat me to something vaguely similar recently, though the article reads like a cheesy predator docudrama itself, which was the point perhaps. Sort of more AdventureKayak Magazine-style humour maybe. It's all good I guess. That's my call, Doug L *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Doug Lloyd wrote: > Brad said (snip): >> 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. [snip] > The guy was swimming in an area the GW has been know to come in to and > feed, looking for seals. He didn't deserve what happened, but he was > directly transiting through the GW's brunching grounds. Do these > swimmers not keep together and employ chase boats? Doug, where did you get that info? I know that beach and reef intimately. I grew up in Solana Beach, and snorkeled the adjacent reef probably a hundred times, swimming out to the kelp beds now and then with buddies, during the late 1950's and running into 1962 when I left for college. Over the course of some five seasons of very active snorkeling on that reef during my teens, we __never__ saw a shark of any size. Now and then we would see a 4-5-foot one. Nobody in my large acquaintance of surfers and snorkelers every saw a GW during that time. There was one death/disappearance allegedly due to a GW attack during the 15 years I lived in that town, down south off La Jolla, but although the eyewitness claimed she saw her husband attacked, there was no physical evidence later when authorities investigated. Suspicion focussed on a staged disappearance when the widow aggressively pursued a declaration of death ... for insurance purposes, IIRC. Is this TMI? -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Doug Lloyd wrote: > > > The two paddlers who disappeared off the California coast (Point Dume) > were never officially listed as shark attack victims, Once upon a time ago, they were included in the ISAF. > I don't think (never saw the coroner's report), rather shark expert > John McCosker reached that conclusion while local paddlers and > kayaking experts disagreed with the conclusion of McCosker, who > himself was part of a feeding frenzy - by the media. Yup. That about sums it up. McCosker was ready to go to print with his Great White Shark book (illustrated by Richard Ellis) when Roy Stoddard and Tamara McAllister went missing (Tamara's body was later found). So he held up the printing process in order to add the sensational section about the couple being killed by a white pointer, spinning a fish tale unlike anything ever heard of in the world of shark experts. McCosker is the reason the two were originally listed. > The one kayaker who's body was recovered, Stoddard, as well as later > the other paddler that went missing, have had both their names removed > from the shark attack files according to Jackie, our past list mom. I emailed George Burgess (and others in the field of ichthyology) about this fish story. Burgess (who maintains the ISAF) knew the wild tale didn't make sense. Eventually, the two names were removed (see "International Shark Attack File" Map of California's Confirmed Unprovoked Shark Attacks 1926-2007 http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/statistics/GAttack/mapCA.htm ). Misinformation about this incident still exists on the internet. btw, the expert kayakers that viewed the damaged kayak suspected that the kayak was damaged by a breaching whale. They did not see anything that resembled a bite on the kayak. There were no teeth left behind. Jackie *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Thanks to Jackie Myers for so thoroughly researching this incident off the California coast. The death of two seakayakers by breaching whale seems like a bit of a stretch. Too bad they died, and with no witnesses, it appears to be a permanent cold case. Brad Quoting Jackie Myers <jackie_at_muddypuppies.com>: > Doug Lloyd wrote: > >> >> >> The two paddlers who disappeared off the California coast (Point >> Dume) were never officially listed as shark attack victims, > > > Once upon a time ago, they were included in the ISAF. > >> I don't think (never saw the coroner's report), rather shark expert >> John McCosker reached that conclusion while local paddlers and >> kayaking experts disagreed with the conclusion of McCosker, who >> himself was part of a feeding frenzy - by the media. > > > Yup. That about sums it up. McCosker was ready to go to print with > his Great White Shark book (illustrated by Richard Ellis) when Roy > Stoddard and Tamara McAllister went missing (Tamara's body was later > found). So he held up the printing process in order to add the > sensational section about the couple being killed by a white pointer, > spinning a fish tale unlike anything ever heard of in the world of > shark experts. McCosker is the reason the two were originally listed. > >> The one kayaker who's body was recovered, Stoddard, as well as >> later the other paddler that went missing, have had both their >> names removed from the shark attack files according to Jackie, our >> past list mom. > > > I emailed George Burgess (and others in the field of ichthyology) about > this fish story. Burgess (who maintains the ISAF) knew the wild tale > didn't make sense. Eventually, the two names were removed (see > "International Shark Attack File" Map of California's Confirmed > Unprovoked Shark Attacks 1926-2007 > http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/statistics/GAttack/mapCA.htm ). > Misinformation about this incident still exists on the internet. > > btw, the expert kayakers that viewed the damaged kayak suspected that > the kayak was damaged by a breaching whale. They did not see anything > that resembled a bite on the kayak. There were no teeth left behind. > > > Jackie *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Bradford R. Crain wrote: > Thanks to Jackie Myers for so thoroughly researching this incident off > the California coast. The death of two seakayakers by breaching whale > seems > like a bit of a stretch. Not really. Whale/human encounters are almost always harmless (for the human). However, once in a while, sh*t happens.... Cool photos of a Newfoundland kayaker kayaking with whales http://members.tripod.com/mcgruer-ivil/id10.html Whale's Jump Leads To Man's Death http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A05E2D6163EF937A3575AC0A9649C8B63 Angry Whale Attacks Boat, Kills Japanese Fisherman http://video.aol.com/video-detail/angry-whale-attacks-boat-kills-japanese-fisherman/1721961108 Yacht crew stranded after possible whale collision http://starbulletin.com/2006/07/26/news/story15.html Young humpback jumps, falls on tourist http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/2001/Feb/15/215localnews30.html During the 2003-2004 season, a Maui fisherman was knocked unconscious after his boat collided with a whale near Wailuku https://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/800/107466/&printerfriendly=1 New Moby Dick? Boat crasher a rare white whale http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/science/08/22/white.whale/ Whale wrecks family's sailing trip http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/3164413.stm Issues Affecting the Southern Resident Orcas Kayakers even present a problem here because they're so quiet. Marine animals, busy hunting and feeding under the surface of the water, may not be aware that there is a kayak above them and actually hit the bottom of it as they surface to breathe. http://www.whale-museum.org/education/library/issues.html Whale Sends A Bark To Davy Jones's Locker http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9906E2D71230E733A25756C2A9629C946397D6CF And just for fun..... Orca and dog http://www.youtube.co jackie *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
That dog with the orca is just too funny, thanks for sharing that. Here's a better link to it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNUlpDLuYUI -----Original Message----- Whale Sends A Bark To Davy Jones's Locker http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9906E2D71230E733A25756C2A9629 C946397D6CF And just for fun..... Orca and dog http://www.youtube.co jackie *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Man, if I've gotta choose amongst flying eagle ray attack, bopped by breaching whale, nip and tuck via great white shark, or bonk on head by low-flying seaplane, I may just park my kayak and take up basket weaving. Does health insurance cover these kinds of adventures? Would a good helmet help? Brad Quoting Jackie Myers <jackie_at_muddypuppies.com>: > > > Bradford R. Crain wrote: > >> Thanks to Jackie Myers for so thoroughly researching this incident off >> the California coast. The death of two seakayakers by breaching whale seems >> like a bit of a stretch. > > > > Not really. Whale/human encounters are almost always harmless (for the > human). However, once in a while, sh*t happens.... > > Cool photos of a Newfoundland kayaker kayaking with whales > http://members.tripod.com/mcgruer-ivil/id10.html > > Whale's Jump Leads To Man's Death > http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A05E2D6163EF937A3575AC0A9649C8B63 > > Angry Whale Attacks Boat, Kills Japanese Fisherman > http://video.aol.com/video-detail/angry-whale-attacks-boat-kills-japanese-fisherman/1721961108 > > Yacht crew stranded after possible whale collision > http://starbulletin.com/2006/07/26/news/story15.html > > Young humpback jumps, falls on tourist > http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/2001/Feb/15/215localnews30.html > > During the 2003-2004 season, a Maui fisherman was knocked unconscious > after his boat collided with a whale near Wailuku > https://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/800/107466/&printerfriendly=1 > > New Moby Dick? Boat crasher a rare white whale > http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/science/08/22/white.whale/ > > Whale wrecks family's sailing trip > http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/3164413.stm > > Issues Affecting the Southern Resident Orcas > Kayakers even present a problem here because they're so quiet. Marine > animals, busy hunting and feeding under the surface of the water, may > not be aware that there is a kayak above them and actually hit the > bottom of it as they surface to breathe. > http://www.whale-museum.org/education/library/issues.html > > Whale Sends A Bark To Davy Jones's Locker > http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9906E2D71230E733A25756C2A9629C946397D6CF > > And just for fun..... > Orca and dog > http://www.youtube.co > > jackie *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Bradford R. Crain wrote: > Man, if I've gotta choose amongst flying eagle ray attack, bopped by > breaching whale, nip and tuck via great white shark, or bonk on head by > low-flying seaplane, Dont' forget leaping alligator gar. Texas Water Safari....... "During previous years race, an alligator gar attracted by the headlamp of a canoer, jumped into a canoe cracking the ribs of the paddler and ending the race for the team." (actually, I thought the paddler ended up with a broken collar bone) http://people.tamu.edu/~bob/HotNCold.html Jackie *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Bradford R. Crain wrote: > Thanks to Jackie Myers for so thoroughly researching this incident off > the California coast. The death of two seakayakers by breaching whale > seems > like a bit of a stretch. Oh, I forgot to add.... I believe the thought was that a breaching whale cracked one of the kayaks. Since the two kayakers were out kayaking in January and not dressed for cold-water immersion, it's possible they succumbed to hypothermia. A common killer of kayakers. Jackie *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I just realized my link to "Orca and Dog" wasn't complete so here's another try.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNUlpDLuYUI jackie <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNUlpDLuYUI&feature=related> *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Could that be Luna the Orca, who pestered fisherman, was revered by the tribes, and eventually succumbed to a boat propeller? Brad Quoting Jackie Myers <jackie_at_muddypuppies.com>: > > I just realized my link to "Orca and Dog" wasn't complete so here's > another try.... > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNUlpDLuYUI > > > jackie > > > <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNUlpDLuYUI&feature=related> *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
There are a couple shark incident reports on the surfski.info website, including a nice compilation: http://www.surfski.info/content/view/368/147/ My apologies if this is previously posted info I've been on vacation... Kirk -- Kirk Olsen *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Socalseakayak wrote: >This is my first post and I am a relatively new to the >sport, a beginning?kayaker of just under 1 year. I was >reading about the shark attack G'day and welcome! Hope the following notes help. They've been gleaned from conversations and occasional observation rather than a scientific study. Sharks I've encountered have either been curious or scared or on one occasion trying to get out of our way while we were surfing. However, I've never knowingly kayaked with a GW, and probably wouldn't know I had until after it attacked. Other sharks would probably bump your boat first. Following are some places and times to possibly avoid rolling or swimming if sharks live in your paddling area. - seal colonies. - dawn or dusk which are feeding times for some sharks - Murky waters especially in estuaries or lagoons for example after rain. Sharks can get confused and aggressive in murky water. Such places could be more dangerous than open sea. - Talk to the local fisherman and find out where the sharks tend to feed and hang out, I seem to recollect that rivermouths and points are popular feeding places, then avoid entering the water in those places and avoid the fisherman when they're fishing. A number of Aussie surfers have got away from sharks by punching them on the nose, but I suspect these were the smaller ones. Don't be put off. You sort of get used to the smaller sharks after a while but I wouldn't go rolling in places they frequent or go swimming with them especially if dressed in a wet suit that might make you look like a seal - can't understand why we don't lose more surfers in their wetsuits. After all that I've got much more reason to be scared of an unpredictable off shore wind and of the other drivers on the road to the put in. All the best, PeterO *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
If I had to choose what wildlife is the most ferocious to kayakers I would have to say, hands down, it is a mother swan. Many swans breed in the inlets around Cape Cod and if you paddle too close to a nest or even look at one the wrong way you are in for a nasty attack. I have been able to "divert" them with a paddle but the safest thing is to paddle with someone who is slower than you. Hal "Power your boat with carbohydrates not hydrocarbons" *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Hal wrote: > If I had to choose what wildlife is the most ferocious to kayakers I > would have to say, hands down, it is a mother swan. For me, it's no-seeums or sand fleas. A few campouts along the beach with those pests and I'm ready to drown myself. Jackie *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 4/29/2008 9:51:28 PM Pacific Daylight Time, crainb_at_pdx.edu writes: Man, if I've gotta choose amongst flying eagle ray attack, bopped by breaching whale, nip and tuck via great white shark, or bonk on head by low-flying seaplane, I may just park my kayak and take up basket weaving. Does health insurance cover these kinds of adventures? Would a good helmet help? Brad No, insurance only covers the damage, not the adventures. No, a helmet wouldn't help (although the body may be more recognizable). However, consider that you are still in much more danger driving to and from your launch and landing sites than you are on the water, and make decisions appropriately! Happy kayaking! Pam in Washington State **************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851) *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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