Stripers in the Surf

  My friend Eric just got off the water.  He and his dad noticed that the bait was pushed into the
beach by Seacliff (Aptos).  Seals and birds were working the water.  They jigged up bait, and fly
lined the bait into the surf, drawing it slowly back out into the deep water.   He said that Stripers were
hitting the bait every other cast, making for WFO fishing.   After an hour of catching and releasing,
a large shark cruised past their 17' CC boat.  From tip to tail, it was as long as their boat.

  With all the bait, stripers and seals up against the beach, it was clear the Shark was looking for
it's next meal.  I emailed the Aptos State Parks office with Eric's observations.  While the fish are
up next to the beach, it would not be a good time for swimming.

  FYI folks.    Good fishing with some risks.....

Great... .  You think it was whitey? 

On Sat after MBK, I did a quick swim out to the end of the wharf past all the moored up sailboats, about .4 mi out.  Ran into one chap who was still yakfishing who asked, "See any stripers??" 

On Sun on my way home from the SC FW derby, I swam the 1 mile buoy course at Cowells.  Before I jumped in, I jokingly asked the hottie lifeguard if she'd seen any dorsal fins today.  She said, no.  The whole swim i kept thinking "skank lied, as evidenced by the large moving shadow below"  I was totally tripping  

OK, maybe i WASN'T just tripping.  Maybe there WAS something...  Anyway, there was some other lean tri-meat in the water who were going much slower so I figured f' it.  They're an easier meal...

Shit. That doesn't bode well for diving.

After an hour of catching and releasing, a large shark cruised past their 17' CC boat.  From tip to tail, it was as long as their boat.

Two words ... NO THANKS!!

Michael

just keep your feet in the yak!

At around 17' my bet would be it was a GWS, I paddle an 8' boat in Monterey Bay frequently... that makes me feel a bit nervy

Like a giant topwater lure

Like a giant topwater lure

Naw, Ive seen your short yak, more like a large dry fly.  Now a full on 16 foot yak, thats a pencil popper for sure.