Shark encounter - what to do

[Mwhitcraft]

I'll admit it, all this shark talk has gotten me a little frightened. Not that I'm going to quit going out, but I'd like to know how to react if I get bumped (to date I've only seen on shark while out, but he didn't harass me at all).

I've heard all sorts of advice from ignore it, to paddle towards it, to smack it hard with your paddle. Obviously, ignore it is the way to deal with a shark that isn't harassing you. But what if you are being harassed and/or followed? Will a shark follow you into the kelp line?

What would you do?

[HobieScot]

Larger GW supposedly won't enter kelp according to the shark experts. I don't believe it's actually been proven so take that for what it's worth






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[alanw]

If you're not trailing a chum slick behind you then they won't stick around long.

[DanaPT]

Keep calm. And don't almost get attacked.

No dead fish on deck (avoidence). Reel in bait... donate said bait to Mr shark . Paddle away calmly.

2 of last 3 outings I saw HHs.

[Geno Machino]

Do what I did...haul ass into the kelp-line while winding in my bait😓

[619-SWIM-DOG]

Ask said Shark kindly to remove him or her self from your fishing area.

[John Doe]

Originally Posted by HobieScot

Larger GW supposedly won't enter kelp according to the shark experts. I don't believe it's actually been proven so take that for what it's worth

I live up north, central coast. We used to think that till some divers shot this photo a few years back It ran in the San Luis Obispo Tribune. Photo was shot off Cambria.
http://sloblogs.thetribunenews.com/s...9/09/shark.jpg

[ful-rac]

What ever you do don't stick your feet and legs in the water....

Just stay calm and paddle or PEDDLE away. You should be just fine.

And...don't call the news or tell the lifeguard...unless it's a real emergency...

[Mwhitcraft]

Originally Posted by John Doe

I live up north, central coast. We used to think that till some divers shot this photo a few years back It ran in the San Luis Obispo Tribune. Photo was shot off Cambria.
http://sloblogs.thetribunenews.com/s...9/09/shark.jpg

That's a pretty scary photo! Thanks for the information. Does anyone advocate hitting the shark with a paddle, gaff or anything else you can get your hands on?

[HobieScot]

Only if it has you or your kayak in its mouth

If that's the case go for the eyes because that's their most vulnerable area

Otherwise don't provoke or piss them off






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[J.Mac]

*Hawaiian spear gaff*

More for piece of mind. 3 foot shovel handle with a 3 foot cement rod sharpened to a point. Tethered to the kayak with a 4 foot leash. Hopefully you never use it and odds are if it's that close to you it probably won't wait for you to get it out for a "fairer" fight 😂 at least with a circling shark you'll have something to poke back with just in case

[skrilla]

Aim for the eyes and gills and if you have to... the claspers.

[Dannowar]

Quit kayak fishing. The only way to avoid sharks.


And please don't go around poking at them. What if someone dangled a steak in your face and as soon as you went to take a bite someone jabbed you in the face? You're in their territory.

[Cbad Mike]

Don't smack it or you will be the one statistic under the "provoked attack" column.
Just keep paddling. They are curious and hungry nuisances just like the seals except they have fins.
Either they will get bored and leave or they will hang around long enough for you to get bored of them.
Take a deep breath and enjoy the encounter.
Relax and get some cool video but DONT promote it or go to the news.
If you do somehow find yourself getting eaten try to get swallowed whole and head first then just swim out his butthole.
In either case you'll be fine....
I promise.

[rossman]

If you see a shark you are very lucky on at least 2 levels. First of all they are amazing creatures so enjoy the view. Secondly the ones that you see are not the problems. If you read the first hand accounts of sharks attacking kayaks, none of them say 'I saw this shark and all of a sudden he attacked me" (except for that last fool). All of what I consider shark attacks are totally without warning. By the way, a bump is not an attack unless you are part of the media. Enjoy every moment and every experience on the water because us yakers are luckiest people on earth to be that close to nature's finest displays.

[Chuck D]

From a very recent experience I will give you my advise. I was followed by a hh for about 3 miles during the course of about half and hour. The faster I tried to peddle away and maneuver the kayak the more interested and bold he got. He ended up charging my kayak 4 times and biting it twice. Eventually I stopped because I was so tired of peddling and started smacking the water with my gaff repeatedly. He took off, hope this helps, personal experience.

[kareem korn]

I'd shit like a squid.

[Harry Hill]

Originally Posted by kareem korn

I'd shit like a squid.

best answer yet

[taggermike]

Get any baits out of the wate. Keep the deck blood free if possible. paddling away quickly or zig zagging might get you away from a scent area, but seriously, you're not out running a shark on a kayak. Push them away if they're that close. If you're getting bumped hard or bitten give em all you have with some thing solid. Sharks have some of the most refined and evolved sences on earth. They also have electro detection so sensitive they can "feel" preys' muscles moving. My thoughts are just the outfall from a bait tank full of stressed baits might leave a detectable scent trail. Or a bait pump submerged in the water might put out an electric field. Since a kayak is basicly a big hollow sounding chamber, like an accustic guitar body, the sound of a bait pump inside a yak will be amplified and sent in to the water. Not saying this to scare any one, just to point out trying to be fully stealth would be tough. Do what you can about sents n defend your self. Mikr

[1morehobby]

A little praying won't hurt.