Unprovoked shark attack on kayak

Hopefully this is the correct forum to post this in - I'm new here.  I have been kayak fishing in California quite a long time (off and on for 40 years - honest), but something happened to me the other day that I thought was worthy of sharing with this group.  I usually kayak fish alone off the Pescadero coast (San Mateo county), and yes I know it is 'sharky' down there.  Fortunately I was fishing with a friend last Tuesday Aug. 1, and it was also fortunate that I was using my heavy Cobra Tourer model that day, rather than a lighter Tsunami 15' kevlar boat I usually use.  Things might have turned out differently if I had been alone and in that boat.  I'm going to copy and paste the objective write-up I have submitted to Ray Collier's Shark Research Committee which will give you the pertinent info of the event, which I'm sure will elicit many questions and comments, and I'll do my best to respond when and if I can.  And for the record - I suffered no physical injuries from the attack on my kayak.  I was previously aware of one other shark-kayak interaction in this area (off Bean Hollow), but I have since discovered 2 other shark-kayak events along this section of coast between Pescadero and Pigeon Pt.  Perhaps some of these folks are members here?

Unprovoked Shark Attack Report – Kayak

Date:  Aug. 1, 2017

I was kayak fishing with one other kayaker approximately 300 yards offshore, between Pescadero Pt. and the northern Bean Hollow State beach (37.2381N, 122.4217W).  Water depth was 30-35 feet.  I had just caught a fish, and had put it on a stringer with one other fish, and hung the stringer in the water just aft of my seat.  Without any warning, a white shark struck a few feet forward of the port bow of my kayak.  I saw about 3-4’ of the shark’s head come out of the water as it bit into the side of the kayak.  The force rolled my kayak over to starboard, putting me in the water.  When I surfaced my immediate instinct was to climb on top of my overturned kayak, but the shark was still engaged to the bow of the kayak and thrashing about.  Once the shark submerged I pulled myself on top of the upside down kayak, and my friend paddled alongside me.  I was not injured, but needed a few moments to assess the situation and my condition.  There was no sign of the shark, so I slipped in the water between our two kayaks, and as quick as possible flipped my kayak over and pulled myself aboard.  The center hatch of my kayak had not been latched down and had come off on impact, so my kayak had taken on a bit of water, making it sluggish but stable.  We gathered up my floating gear around us, and just as we were preparing to paddle into shore I saw a large ‘boil’ of water directly under my boat, which clearly indicated to me that a shark was still there.  I would estimate that from time of initial attack to this observation was 5-10 minutes.  We paddled towards shore and then northward along the shoreline to our put-in spot at Pescadero Point.  There are numerous bite marks and scratches on the bow of the kayak – photos available.

I would estimate the size of the shark to be approx 10’ or less, based on my view of the head – I never saw the entire body.  The boil I saw a bit later looked to me to be from a very large shark (I’ve had some experience working with research shark taggers at the Farallon Islands, and have seen a number of large white sharks from a small tagging skiff) – I can’t say for sure but based on the size of the boil this may have been a different/larger shark than the one that attacked the kayak.

Weather:  foggy, visibility ranged from <100 yards to ¼ mile, wind NW 5kts.
Air temp. 60F, water temp. 58F,  water visibility 2-3’, green color
Kayak:  Cobra Tourer model, 14’4”, blue/green color (other kayak was white, 12’)
Time of attack:  approx. 10:45am

Thank you for sharing this here.  I'm glad you didn't suffer any injuries.

Dang...you seem so cool...are you going back?  Does this incident truly decrease your odds of another encounter?  If you had a sharkshield you would have mentioned it. I am glad you are alright.

Thanks for the well presented report. I am glad that you did not suffer any personal physical damage. Interesting that there might have been two animals in attendance. Please follow up here on what the researchers gather from your report and observations.

How does one "provoke" a shark attack?  I've always wondered?  They are not  grizzly bears.  I sort of resent that Collier guy for sensationalizing.  Though I'm sure what you experienced was pretty sensational. 

Glad you are OK.  That's a real scare I hope I never have to experience. 

Two Tips:  Don't leave your stringer in the water (furbags, not sharks)  And, always keep your hatches dogged.


Bushy

Yikes! Really glad you didn't get hurt. Thank you for the detailed and well-written report.

I was checked out by what appeared to be a great white just south of there. It looked like it rushed me from below and changed its mind before reaching the surface.

Not sure I would consider this unprovoked though, paddling around near Bean Hollow in a seal-mimic topwater lure. 

Bushy wrote:

How does one "provoke" a shark attack?

Good question - hmm, heavy chumming, dragging a seal-like profile object.

KPD has a point about kayaks in general.

Pretty scary situation.  Glad you got away unscathed and able to share this with us.

Thank you for the detailed report. I love/hate reading them though. Love you are able to report it; hate that it happened to you.
Thankfully you are OK.
Can I assume your feet were not in the water at the time of the attack?
We have a saying here on the board; no pics, didn't happen........just sayin' 

kayak fishing California for 40yrs and now you decide to join NCKA?.......why?

kayak fishing California for 40yrs and now you decide to join NCKA?.......why?

I was thinking the same thing Jack. 

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I think it's great that there is shark research.  I just don't agree with the way they attract sharks with chum and hunks of fish from small boats.  They now associate small boats and stringers with an easy meal.  And now we are all in more danger because of it. 

Thank you for taking the time to share a detailed report.  I am glad everything turned out OK for you.  Would love a pic of the damage of the kayak out of curiosity, but it's really not that important.  Thanks again!

Good that only the kayak sustained injuries. Maybe it's time for a shark shield?

Thank you for sharing your experience. That's some scary stuff. I think this is the 5th or 6th attack along that stretch of SM coast. With a handful of them being active members here. And the third such encounter I've heard about this year on the central coast. Seems to be happening more frequently in the last few years.

kayak fishing California for 40yrs and now you decide to join NCKA?.......why?

I was thinking the same thing Jack. 

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I think it's great that there is shark research.  I just don't agree with the way they attract sharks with chum and hunks of fish from small boats.  They now associate small boats and stringers with an easy meal.  And now we are all in more danger because of it.



















I totally agree. I'm glad somebody said it.