Official GWS Thread

Better to be eaten by Whitie than squished by muni. Might be my epitath. I love GWSs. I thought of them every time a 20 foot bait ball was marked when Im at dux, with an adrenalin  smile. Its simple- if whitie is to much, just stay on the beach. Wish there were more of them, it will help curb the yak explosion that were about to see in the next few years. Yaks are going to outnumber PBs, mark my words. The agencies are trying to figure out how to control and regulate us allready, I bet. GWSs belong here. Allways have.
 

Yeah!If you spend your time thinking about it.it will feed your fear.I jumpped in the ocean from O.B.(s.f.) to Santa Cruz at least 2-3 times a week for 15yrs.durring all four seasons and have never seen WHITEY.Not to say he wasn't there but if your passion invovles danger?Put it on the scale of fun vs. fear and dont look back!unless its a mouth-full-o-teeth.

I've heard yesterday from 2 people about a video that shows a kayaker being followed by a 14' GWS. They said thats the size for the kayak was 12' and the shark was a bit bigger. Anybody know of this?

that's why I paddle a 15' kayak and try to fish with people with smaller kayaks,  .

the weak buffalo. the ideal fishing companion. 

that's why I paddle a 15' kayak and try to fish with people with smaller kayaks,  .

the weak buffalo. the ideal fishing companion. 

or you can simply "tip over" your buddy with your paddle and apologize right away

Very Comforting

the pic of shark and kayak is my screensaver. My brother sent it to me, I do not know where he got it. I'll ask. I have been within spitting distance of three different GW's 6-8', 10-12', 18-19' the 2 smaller of Ft Bragg and Pappa was 3 miles staight out of Santa Cruz. We know the bastard was that big because we were in a 17.5' Ski boat and It was bigger then our boat. What an awsome experience.

YIKE! Can you possibly put that up here (Screen saver that is)? That experince must have truly awsome, how do you feel about being out in the ocean with those guppies?

I have the screensaver in Bitmap and it won't load into forum. I'll work on coverting it(any tips). The two smaller sharks were way cool. Boat size to shark size very relevent. the big guy was more of a force of God.

Sorry about tips, I'm at the stage of just getting e-mails through! There are knowlegable members looking
I'm sure one of them will come through

Heres a reasonably relevant bit of news...http://www.fishingkites.co.nz/newsletters/newsletter101.htm

Only blood and vomit??? I certainly would have shat myself as well!!!!!!

I've been reading this thread for a while now and must say it's pretty interesting to hear everyone's opinions. Also glad to see so much interest in the GWS! I've been a shark geek for a long time and especially when it comes to the GWS. One guy who really knows his stuff about GWS is John E. McCosker. He's done a lot of work with GWS and been a researcher, director, and curator at California Academy Of Sciences (Steinhart Aquarium). http://www.calacademy.org/research/curators/mccosker.htm He's got a good simple rundown of GWS info that is pretty darn informational.

http://www.calacademy.org/research/aquatic/sharks.php

He also co-authored a great GWS book: http://www.amazon.com/Great-Shark/dp/0804725292/sr=8-1/qid=1156872361/ref=sr_1_1/104-6101327-4450317?ie=UTF8

McCosker is featured in a National Geographic special I saw (yeah, I rented movies from the library) roughly 20 yrs ago about GWs and sharks in general.  I remember him referring to the color of life preservers as being "yum yum yellow".   

  I saw on the news that a GWS was spotted at Stinson's Beach over the Labor Day weekend. I'm guessing he'll be heading up to Bodega Head and Doran Beach for seal snacks. There must be at least a dozen seals and juvenile sea lions per mile around that beach and the Bodega Harbor jetties!