Kayak Color and sharks...

[wiredantz]

Proverb:

The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.



I don't doubt Jim words. I could just imagine how a red kayak looks under the water. It probably looks like a handicap seal that is bleeding. (because the light will disperse the red in the water and makes it look attractive) So the attraction is there.

and i also believe that we are in the worng places at the wrong time.

time and unforeseen circumstance will befall us all.


This being the case, taking extra steps to protect one self is not a bad idea and these shark infested waters. Especially if you tend to go out by yourself like i do.

[Iceman]

So who is packin' heat?

[Ed]

Originally Posted by wiredantz

I could just imagine how a red kayak looks under the water. It probably looks like a handicap seal that is bleeding. (because the light will disperse the red in the water and makes it look attractive) So the attraction is there.

When I dive under and look back up at my yak all I see is a dark silhouette against the sky. Can't even make out the color. Just sayin........

[wiredantz]

Originally Posted by Ed

When I dive under and look back up at my yak all I see is a dark silhouette against the sky. Can't even make out the color. Just sayin........

Well, i could be wrong. lol


I just used a glass of water and put in a red plastic coated pen and it made the water look red.

So i would just say in the right conditions it would probably disperse the color red in the immediate water surrounding the kayak.

[dos ballenas]

In Southern California we only have to worry about Great whites for the most part. Unfortunately socal is home to a large number of immature and juvenile GWS. Fortunately, when they are small these sharks are mostly fish eaters.

That being said, if the young ones are born and grow up here then the mammal eating mothers must also be here. This may cause some concern, but if you run the numbers, the probability of getting attacked by a shark on a kayak is very, very, very low. How many shark attacks have you heard of in socal? Compare that to how many people go swimming, surfing, kayaking, etc.. everyday in socal. Of course the chances go up if you spend more time OTW. Not to mention that GWS populations are slowly growing.

If you're worried about sharks, then you might as well stay home and never leave your house. Its more dangerous crossing the street to get a donut. I'm personally more worried about the 16 year old that just got their drivers license...

That being said, shark avoidance is a great idea... but then you have to think about why and when most shark attacks occur... Most of the time shark attacks are a case of mistaken identity.... most of the time they occur in murky water with low visibility. Most of the time GWS are ambush predators. So how visible is a kayak, or the color of a kayak, in dark, dirty water? Good question.

In regards to color preference when using irons or jigs IMO: color matters, but the action or way the jig swims is more important. The action is a combination of the jigs shape, and the fishermens presentation. Many people say size doesn't matter... whats important is how you use it. IMO, I think size, color, and action all are important. But they are not equally important.

The only shark attack I can think of that occured in socal was a case of mistaken identity in low visibility water which leads me to believe that the shark was keyed in on the action of the swimmer and not their color...

The fact is that GWS are all around us all the time. If they wanted to eat humans they wouldn't have any problem doing so.

Just go fish... you're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't.

[wiredantz]

Originally Posted by dos ballenas

In Southern California we only have to worry about Great whites for the most part. Unfortunately socal is home to a large number of immature and juvenile GWS. Fortunately, when they are small these sharks are mostly fish eaters.

That being said, if the young ones are born and grow up here then the mammal eating mothers must also be here. This may cause some concern, but if you run the numbers, the probability of getting attacked by a shark on a kayak is very, very, very low. How many shark attacks have you heard of in socal? Compare that to how many people go swimming, surfing, kayaking, etc.. everyday in socal. Of course the chances go up if you spend more time OTW. Not to mention that GWS populations are slowly growing.

If you're worried about sharks, then you might as well stay home and never leave your house. Its more dangerous crossing the street to get a donut. I'm personally more worried about the 16 year old that just got their drivers license...

That being said, shark avoidance is a great idea... but then you have to think about why and when most shark attacks occur... Most of the time shark attacks are a case of mistaken identity.... most of the time they occur in murky water with low visibility. Most of the time GWS are ambush predators. So how visible is a kayak, or the color of a kayak, in dark, dirty water? Good question.

In regards to color preference when using irons or jigs IMO: color matters, but the action or way the jig swims is more important. The action is a combination of the jigs shape, and the fishermens presentation. Many people say size doesn't matter... whats important is how you use it. IMO, I think size, color, and action all are important. But they are not equally important.

The only shark attack I can think of that occured in socal was a case of mistaken identity in low visibility water which leads me to believe that the shark was keyed in on the action of the swimmer and not their color...

The fact is that GWS are all around us all the time. If they wanted to eat humans they wouldn't have any problem doing so.

Just go fish... you're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't.

Yes, it is a very very low chance. you are more likely to get in a car accident and probably the same percentage as getting struck by lightning.

Just like we have to drive to work and put on our seatbelts and just as we make sure we carry a spare tire. This is just like going into lion territory, you just want to play your cards right.

No doubt all of us love to be on the water, thats why we are all here. Some of us just like to take more precautions than others. Some of us drive a huge Hummer while other drive a smart car. How protected are you?

If someone wants to be camoflauged, while other want to go in a bright red suit. To each his own.


I had a red tandem for a long time and never got bothered. Was I more of a target that another color, i don't know. Do i want to find out? no...

[CurtyL]

my thoughts? dead man paddlin'

[Hunter (The 80's Man)]

So, what's the protocol if you do have an encounter with one of these sharks? If you have one nosing around your yak, is it one of those things where you don't make eye contact? Do you stare him down? Do I raise my arms and yell to try and seem bigger than I am? Or, maybe since I'll be crapping my pants, I can just throw it at him like a monkey in a zoo. Seriously, if you can poke him with a paddle, do you do that? What do you do????

[wiredantz]

Originally Posted by Hunter (The 80's Man)

So, what's the protocol if you do have an encounter with one of these sharks? If you have one nosing around your yak, is it one of those things where you don't make eye contact? Do you stare him down? Do I raise my arms and yell to try and seem bigger than I am? Or, maybe since I'll be crapping my pants, I can just throw it at him like a monkey in a zoo. Seriously, if you can poke him with a paddle, do you do that? What do you do????

well, i read your suppose to stay still, if he becomes aggressive you hit him on his nose with your paddle, and then poke his eye out with your knife if your endanger and prey you don't get eaten alive.

[bubblehide]

Originally Posted by wiredantz

well, i read your suppose to stay still, if he becomes aggressive you hit him on his nose with your paddle, and then poke his eye out with your knife if your endanger and prey you don't get eaten alive.

Uhmmmmm, you may want to think about shitting you waders first

[sasha]

Hey i know im new but isnt the idea is to tie a big hook to the back of the kayak. Then peddal real fast and now you got a one big lure to get the biggest fish in the kayak. Well just a thought,,

[maui jim]

It's there world , were only passing thru.............

[DESTROYER]

I'm more afraid of Knotheads!

seas_sealion2.jpg

What color do they like Jim? LOL

[maui jim]

Well said.. Ive seen sharks twice in30 years of surfing Oside and Santa Barbara, its there world and im passing through.
Ihave also been in close contact with bears and a Mountain Lion while hunting in deep woods and forests. And I dont like being stalked either way, but being in the outdoors there is no betta life, So enjoy it before you get too old. No ka oi.

[Smokeybear]

Interesting old thread. Who's watching shark week, I was watching shark week about the two surfers killed in Vanderberg one in 2010 and the other one 2012, also that missing firefighter that went kayak fishing off Gaviota beach Coincidence I don't think so.

Let's face it the state is protecting a predator like th GWS and since the 1990s there are more sharks and they found lots of food in Socal and humans are not a threat to them anymore.

About kayak and colors I think it's the shape not the color most surfers are wearing black and riding white surfboards and from below they look like seals, do kayaks look like slow dying dolphin?
Great thread

[tacmik]

Actually, the color of the yak doesn't matter. It's the motion and vibrations that the Hobie fins put out that trigger the shark attacks.

[tacmik]

always thought that sharks were color blind, only saw in black and white. Or was that my dog? Also as to the color red, thought that that was the first color to go in the spectrum in the water.

[Sheephead]

My buddy listens to house music via portable speaker and see's a shark every outing. Don't listen to music and you'll almost never see one.

[MITCHELL]

IMMIGRANT......song We are your overlords....

[SoCalEDC]

We have 10 more years of data since this post was created and recreational kayaking/kayak fishing is probably more popular now than it ever was in the past. With all the more data to analyze, has the evidence shifted to show that color of kayak does or doesn't matter?

Do shark stripes on the bottom of the hull work if they are painted in a way that they break up the sihlouette and don't look like a caution sign?