Santa Barbara Shark Attack: Shark Kills Swimmer, Closes California Beaches - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

roadx · 10-24-2010, 08:22 AM

MythBusters

http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/myth...refer-red.html

OR

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmt5gF1fqZo

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsafety

I wonder if this guy was wearing a seal-colored wet suit? That was the first thing that I thought of after reading this article. The guy who was killed in Solana Beach was wearing a black wetsuit.

I don't know anything about a shark's eyesight but if they can see colors they just might avoid something that does not look like their typical prey. Maybe someone should develop a line of wetsuits that sets surfers and swimmers apart from what a shark considers to be food.

Just a thought.

Bob

dmrides · 10-24-2010, 01:08 PM

I have heard of several attacks on body boarders while surfers are in the water. I have always guessed that the swim fins and body board looks more like a seal than a surfer. Might not be the case, but certainly a possibility.

ronbo613 · 10-24-2010, 03:49 PM

Like most surfers, I've heard the red/yellow shark attraction theory. Didn't pay much attention to it until I surfed reef shark infested waters on my red and yellow surfboard. The locals told me the small(6-10') sharks won't bother you as long as there are fish around smaller than you. When you don't see any fish, including the "small" sharks, mostly near deep water dropoffs, you should start to worry.
Most logical explanation I've heard is that most sharks, especially Great Whites, hunt from the "bottom up"; they cruise along the bottom looking up for prey, which is silhouetted against the sky. With that kind of lighting; everything is black, colors don't matter that much. If you've ever seen a surfer or bodyboarder with arms and legs dangling off the board, that silhouette is just about the same as a large seal, the shark's preferred prey.
It's just the chance you take when you jump in the ocean, easy to talk about, not so cool when somebody gets attacked.

dfroggy54 · 10-27-2010, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadx

MythBusters

http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/myth...refer-red.html

OR

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmt5gF1fqZo

crap...yum yum yellow. CRAP!

10-24-2010, 03:49 PM	#3
ronbo613 Waterman At Large Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: On the Water Posts: 199	Like most surfers, I've heard the red/yellow shark attraction theory. Didn't pay much attention to it until I surfed reef shark infested waters on my red and yellow surfboard. The locals told me the small(6-10') sharks won't bother you as long as there are fish around smaller than you. When you don't see any fish, including the "small" sharks, mostly near deep water dropoffs, you should start to worry. Most logical explanation I've heard is that most sharks, especially Great Whites, hunt from the "bottom up"; they cruise along the bottom looking up for prey, which is silhouetted against the sky. With that kind of lighting; everything is black, colors don't matter that much. If you've ever seen a surfer or bodyboarder with arms and legs dangling off the board, that silhouette is just about the same as a large seal, the shark's preferred prey. It's just the chance you take when you jump in the ocean, easy to talk about, not so cool when somebody gets attacked. __________________ Kayak Fishing Photos and Video

10-24-2010, 01:08 PM	#2
dmrides Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Point Loma Posts: 584	I have heard of several attacks on body boarders while surfers are in the water. I have always guessed that the swim fins and body board looks more like a seal than a surfer. Might not be the case, but certainly a possibility.