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Topic: Bull sharks attack kayaks?  (Read 8139 times)

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santiago

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Has anyone ever seen or had run-ins with any bull sharks? 

This wouldn't be around here of course, but I wonder if anyone has dealt with them on warm-water paddling vacations.  I'm headed to areas of Nicaragua where they are fairly common. 

Specifically, I'm wondering if they are big and aggressive enough to go after a kayak, like great whites very occasionally do . . .


mooch

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I hear Bulls are like tigers....very aggressive. I remember a teenager and her friend were just hanging out on their boogie boards somewhere in Florida and they unknowingly drifted to deeper water. One of them was attacked REPEATEDLY and died on the scene. A couple of surfers paddled out to rescue the girls but the one that got attacked was not left alone - the bull shark just kept comming back for another bite.  :smt011


Bill

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Bull sharks are big and very aggressive. I am pretty sure it is the shark responsible for the most attacks on humans. They appear to be somewhat territorial and will attack anything that ventures into there turf. This behavior is associated with mating season however and not year round.

I grew up surfing in Texas, lots of bull sharks there. I got bumped by a small one once but it was a total accident, it was chasing some mullet that happened to be schooled around me. Attacks on humans are fairly uncommon though. I would not be concerned. I would hang my fish over the side but with a line that would break if attacked. You don't want blood draining through your scuppers and inviting a shark to bump your boat. If you can store the fish in a game bag that is even better.


bsteves

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Bull sharks are the shark responsible for a lot of the attacks in Florida (Florida being the state with the most attacks each year). 

Here is a species profile from the Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology Department..
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/bullshark/bullshark.htm

They have a really good shark page...
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Sharks/sharks.htm
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surfingmarmot

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Looks like they don't get all the way up to teh SF Bay area and above, but close. maybe Big Sur and points South. Funny though--they must be sparse here--no attacks at all (that I am aware of) compared to Florida.


KZ

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I read an article in Kayak Fisherman magazine a couple years ago (one of the first issues) of a guy in Florida who was catching Bull Sharks from his kayak... and they weren't small either... llike 8 footers.   

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