Heads up for SLO kayakers.

and I used to feel so safe in the kelp

I'll bet a lot of seal, sea lions, and otters used to feel the same way until...

As Abking put it so eloquently, if the big boy shows aggression, you must answer with violence, for that is all he understands. Weakness detected is weakness exploited. That is how I operate in my line of work and that mentality is quite handy in other arenas as well.

SRJ

I like totes mentaltude!!!  that salt gots to be hard on your gun... but more effective than a paddle or fishing pole or a quick finger to the eye!!!

Circling the kill in a boat the size of a GWS definitely was seen by the shark as a throw down over the kill. Not a wise move--one bite and that zodiac would have burst given a GWS which could bit a sea lion in half.

My thoughts exactly! Did you all see the video posted by mooch recently in the "official GWS thread". I had to re watch it on a faster puter/connection. Seems like that's exactly what happend, and when that guy fled, he nearly sealed the deal. did you all see how fast that fish was moving when it pulled along side of him and made a move on the mirage drive.

AK, I'm not so sure that a full frontal "Braveheart" is that wise either, you could really draw some attention to yourself. It could work, but it could also just think " oh yea, you wanna play that game?......", and your bluff has just been called.
i know a few nutcases back in South Africa who spend alot of time in the water near these fish without cages. They seem to think that if the fish is not excited, and just taking a good look, If you can get on their 6 ( anywhere between their 4 & 8 ), a gentel, deliberate nudge towards them will often send them packing.....so stay put, possibly a nudge towards them. No fast moves, and definitely don't flee...and oh yeah, I love my Shark Shield...just my opinion.

Of course if you are directly attacked, you fend off the attack as forcefully as you can and stand your ground (bluff) until you can move away safely. But I would think it best to avoid contact--if you spot one, move as quickly and quietly out of the area as you can.

I would think a good rule is this: if you were out hiking in Alaska and came on a Grizzly Bear with a kill what would you do? Would you circle around the kill to take pictures? Uh-uh. Would you stand you ground and wait to see what it did? Uh-uh. Would you challenge it with an aggressive posture? Uh-uh. Do any of the former and you are likely to be an obit in the Anchorage newspaper--if they find enough to bury. Same thing here--you are dealing with an apex predator in its element and amply equipped to over power and vanquish you when out of yours. Be safe out there.