Shark encounter - what to do - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

HobieScot · 09-08-2015, 07:17 PM

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

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

J.Mac · 09-08-2015, 09:42 PM

*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 · 09-08-2015, 10:23 PM

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

Dannowar · 09-08-2015, 10:23 PM

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 · 09-09-2015, 12:08 AM

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 · 09-09-2015, 03:51 AM

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 · 09-09-2015, 04:14 AM

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 · 09-09-2015, 05:18 AM

I'd shit like a squid.

rhyak · 09-10-2015, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rossman

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).

Thats not completely true the 20ft that took a bite out of my yak. The kayaker that got hit two hours before was circled first and then had a bite taken out.

I would say get some cool photos and share with family and friends. Unless its trying to bite you which most of these recent encounters have just been HH and Makos then your good a white be a little more worried but unless the thing is big just be glad your on a kayak and not a surfboard.

kjsdad619 · 09-09-2015, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

Mike, best advice ever!!

WARRIORMIKE · 09-09-2015, 07:19 AM

What about jumping on top of them and wrestling them? Has that ever worked?

momo fish · 09-09-2015, 07:28 AM

Sometimes it works..

Quote:

Originally Posted by WARRIORMIKE

What about jumping on top of them and wrestling them? Has that ever worked?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

09-08-2015, 10:23 PM	#3
skrilla Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 664	Aim for the eyes and gills and if you have to... the claspers. __________________ Urban Camo Trident 13

09-08-2015, 10:23 PM	#4
Dannowar Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 1,823	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. __________________ "Beware the lollipop of mediocrity; lick it once and you’ll suck forever." — Brian Wilson Last edited by Dannowar; 09-08-2015 at 10:51 PM.

09-09-2015, 12:08 AM	#5
Cbad Mike Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Carlsbad Ca. Posts: 1,206	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. __________________ [SIGPIC]

09-09-2015, 03:51 AM	#6
rossman Marginally Irrelevant Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bahia Asuncion Posts: 936	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. __________________ "When beholding the tranquil beauty and brilliancy of the ocean’s skin, one forgets the tiger heart that pants beneath it; and would not willingly remember that this velvet paw but conceals a remorseless fang. " — Herman Melville Y'all come see me now, hear!

09-08-2015, 07:17 PM	#1
HobieScot Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 370	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 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

09-08-2015, 09:42 PM	#2
J.Mac Junior Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: San Diego Posts: 12	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

09-09-2015, 04:14 AM	#7
Chuck D Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Bay Park Posts: 559	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.

09-09-2015, 05:18 AM	#8
kareem korn Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: C-bad Posts: 431	I'd shit like a squid.

09-09-2015, 07:19 AM	#11
WARRIORMIKE Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 303	What about jumping on top of them and wrestling them? Has that ever worked?