8/14 another NCKA'er get's hit by a white shark at Bean Hollow.....

I cant say that ur wrong hunter

Adam,
I’m glad you don’t feel any obligations to anyone right now - take care of you and yours and let the drama glommers fall where they may. 

On a personal note, even though I am new to NCKA, I’ve read, laughed, and learned from your posts for nearly a year now.  Although we’ve never met, I do somehow feel like I know you and many of the other regulars on this board.  It’s been the constant info from members like you who’ve generously helped me begin to close the huge gap of knowledge I possessed before finding NCKA and kayak angling in general.  This is why I’ve come to call all of you my “forum friends” and have been known to recount the exploits, the conquests and the sometimes hilarious missteps of this community to those close to me as if they happened to people I’ve known my whole life.  I can’t explain why the sense of community is so easily fostered here – why Mooch’s battle, Eugene and Nathan’s “basking shark” and now this event – seem to strike such a chord with me, but these are things I’ve come to take very personally. 

This is why, for reasons I do not understand, your close call has consumed my thoughts for days now.  It has made me realize I have brothers I’ve never met and teachers whose voices I’ve never heard.  In these days while you are taking inventory of all you have and all you almost lost, know that there are guys out there like me, guys you don’t even know, who are so relieved you are such a bad ass.  This forum and this planet are better with you around.

-Anthony

Anthony, you made me cry with this one....i can even type what i feel. THANKS for being genuine and not holding back your feelings.
I need to meet you and hug you hard.

if you know me, then you know i got a stupid sense of humor and can take what i dish out, but for those of you who dont know me or have never met me= dont try and be funny, cuz i am not going to laugh.

I used to be kind of a jerk about fish finders and milk crates, but have grown out of it.  Fish finders are pretty cool.  Now I'm just a jerk about other things.  For example, I sulk if I don't catch the first fish.

So I have a few questions that I want to ask.  I never really liked fishing Bean as it always creeped me out.  There are lots of things in the water that scare me, including sharks and pinnipeds.  Bean seems to have both.  However, I have never had a bad feeling at the Dove, EKG or even the jaws (and have always felt OK at 3-mile, 4-mile, and even Davenport, but not so much at Scotts Creek or Waddell).  I know the Dove was one of the last known fatal attacks, but it was north - not south - of the lighthouse (actually, closer to EKG and where Adam got hit than the inside reef).  So is it purely the proximity to Ano (and now, Bean) that has people convinced its sharky?  The relatively flat bottom, lack of a haul-out and lots of kelp leave me thinking its one of the safer spots on the SMC.  Maybe I'm goofy wrong.

My next question is about SharkShield.  I have no problem with people who use one, but I have not been interested in fishing with those who do as I have concerns the device might initially attract sharks.  I also take pause in the company pushing this as "a piece of mind" not a shark deterrent.  Maybe that's just cover-your-ass legalese, I don't know.  But reading about Adam's attack - which with five revolutions with the shark at the bow sure doesn't seem exploratory - has me considering buying one.  The story of the guy off Santa Barbara - in a 17.5 foot boat that got munched - hasn't helped (it was thought that at 15 feet, our boats were big enough to keep the sharks away - obviously not the case).  So I'm wondering what others are thinking here.

Sorry if this is off-topic - I can move this post if it is.

Adam - I think we fished together (well, at the same time) a few years ago at Pigeon - I was in a zodiac I had beach launched though, and you were in your yak.  You lost a ling next to the big rock on a root-beer scampi, I believe - was that you?  Anyway, after your ordeal, I hope you come back out on the water and I get a chance to fish with you in a yak. 

my bass fishermen buddy said were a bunch of pencil poppers

my bass fishermen buddy said were a bunch of pencil poppers

....with balls the size of coconuts 

 

My next question is about SharkShield.  I have no problem with people who use one, but I have not been interested in fishing with those who do as I have concerns the device might initially attract sharks.  I also take pause in the company pushing this as "a piece of mind" not a shark deterrent.  Maybe that's just cover-your-ass legalese, I don't know.  But reading about Adam's attack - which with five revolutions with the shark at the bow sure doesn't seem exploratory - has me considering buying one.  The story of the guy off Santa Barbara - in a 17.5 foot boat that got munched - hasn't helped (it was thought that at 15 feet, our boats were big enough to keep the sharks away - obviously not the case).  So I'm wondering what others are thinking here.

Hope I'm not going off topic either, but it's good to talk about safety precautions.

Although it wouldn't have helped in this instance since it was in full attack mode from jump street, I'd feel safer with outriggers.  I'm assuming that they'll either bump you or do an exploratory mouthing/bite the majority of the time and the outriggers will help keep you out of the water.  Or I could be fooling myself and it's just for piece of mind... kinda like the shark shield.    (would love it if it worked, but people have suggested that it attracts them)

^ I got coconuts and would like to keep them. 

So I have a few questions that I want to ask.  I never really liked fishing Bean as it always creeped me out.  There are lots of things in the water that scare me, including sharks and pinnipeds.  Bean seems to have both.  However, I have never had a bad feeling at the Dove, EKG or even the jaws (and have always felt OK at 3-mile, 4-mile, and even Davenport, but not so much at Scotts Creek or Waddell).  I know the Dove was one of the last known fatal attacks, but it was north - not south - of the lighthouse (actually, closer to EKG and where Adam got hit than the inside reef).  So is it purely the proximity to Ano (and now, Bean) that has people convinced its sharky?  The relatively flat bottom, lack of a haul-out and lots of kelp leave me thinking its one of the safer spots on the SMC.  Maybe I'm goofy wrong.

My next question is about SharkShield.  I have no problem with people who use one, but I have not been interested in fishing with those who do as I have concerns the device might initially attract sharks.  I also take pause in the company pushing this as "a piece of mind" not a shark deterrent.  Maybe that's just cover-your-ass legalese, I don't know.  But reading about Adam's attack - which with five revolutions with the shark at the bow sure doesn't seem exploratory - has me considering buying one.  The story of the guy off Santa Barbara - in a 17.5 foot boat that got munched - hasn't helped (it was thought that at 15 feet, our boats were big enough to keep the sharks away - obviously not the case).  So I'm wondering what others are thinking here.

Here is my 2 cents...

The reason for the encounters at BH is a combination of sharkiness and kayak exposure. On any given weekend with good WX from July to October there are 10-20 kayakers at BH vs 2-10 kayakers at other locations such as Pigeon Point. Not trying to justify the madness of fishing BH, but if you think Pigeon Point is safer/less sharky, I think you would have to question the thought process. 

As far as shark shields, I think it is like magnum pepper spray for repelling bears... it is better than nothing.  I think the SS attracting sharks has been put to rest and probably attracks them no more than your FF or the noise we make fishing. Now that I own one, I am glad I have it. If you don't want to fish with me because I am running the shield, that is OK and you won't  hurt my feelings. 

On any given weekend with good WX from July to October there are 10-20 kayakers at BH vs 2-10 kayakers at other locations such as Pigeon Point. Not trying to justify the madness of fishing BH, but if you think Pigeon Point is safer/less sharky, I think you would have to question the thought process.   

Well said Scott.

Adam,
I’m glad you don’t feel any obligations to anyone right now - take care of you and yours and let the drama glommers fall where they may. 

On a personal note, even though I am new to NCKA, I’ve read, laughed, and learned from your posts for nearly a year now.  Although we’ve never met, I do somehow feel like I know you and many of the other regulars on this board.  It’s been the constant info from members like you who’ve generously helped me begin to close the huge gap of knowledge I possessed before finding NCKA and kayak angling in general.  This is why I’ve come to call all of you my “forum friends” and have been known to recount the exploits, the conquests and the sometimes hilarious missteps of this community to those close to me as if they happened to people I’ve known my whole life.  I can’t explain why the sense of community is so easily fostered here – why Mooch’s battle, Eugene and Nathan’s “basking shark” and now this event – seem to strike such a chord with me, but these are things I’ve come to take very personally. 

This is why, for reasons I do not understand, your close call has consumed my thoughts for days now.  It has made me realize I have brothers I’ve never met and teachers whose voices I’ve never heard.  In these days while you are taking inventory of all you have and all you almost lost, know that there are guys out there like me, guys you don’t even know, who are so relieved you are such a bad ass.  This forum and this planet are better with you around.

-Anthony

The more I read this thread, the more I relate to this post.  Well said Anthony, well said.

Adam,
I’m glad you don’t feel any obligations to anyone right now - take care of you and yours and let the drama glommers fall where they may. 

On a personal note, even though I am new to NCKA, I’ve read, laughed, and learned from your posts for nearly a year now.  Although we’ve never met, I do somehow feel like I know you and many of the other regulars on this board.  It’s been the constant info from members like you who’ve generously helped me begin to close the huge gap of knowledge I possessed before finding NCKA and kayak angling in general.  This is why I’ve come to call all of you my “forum friends” and have been known to recount the exploits, the conquests and the sometimes hilarious missteps of this community to those close to me as if they happened to people I’ve known my whole life.  I can’t explain why the sense of community is so easily fostered here – why Mooch’s battle, Eugene and Nathan’s “basking shark” and now this event – seem to strike such a chord with me, but these are things I’ve come to take very personally. 

This is why, for reasons I do not understand, your close call has consumed my thoughts for days now.  It has made me realize I have brothers I’ve never met and teachers whose voices I’ve never heard.  In these days while you are taking inventory of all you have and all you almost lost, know that there are guys out there like me, guys you don’t even know, who are so relieved you are such a bad ass.  This forum and this planet are better with you around.

-Anthony

The more I read this thread, the more I relate to this post.  Well said Anthony, well said.

+1

Also...the wife already knew about Adam's incident and still she nearly pushed me out the door to go fishing tomorrow. I'm blessed with a good one.

The more I reflect on your story of the attack, the more I'm impressed with your maintaining your presence, keeping a hold of the kayak, and managing to keep it between you and the shark. Remarkable. And we'reAllthankfulYoudidIT.

Thanks for the positive feedback guys - I was genuinely struggling with how to react to something I didn't (and don't) fully understand.  I don't want to make this about me, and I don't want to get all melodramatic on the thread because that's not the point.  Adam should remain the focus here - but the hard truth is, I was overwhelmed with concern and suddenly aware that I would have been personally devastated if things had gone differently.  It's unusual (at least for me) to feel so connected, so invested in someone I've never met, but Adam, I feel like I know you and dammit we haven't had our throw down yet!  It became very important to me to let you know there are probably scores of dudes just like me, who you don't even realize would be wearing black arm bands today if you didn't have the presence of mind and strength to remain in control of your destiny.  You are truly my new personal hero and I can't wait to meet you.  Stay strong and know that if anyone asks me to book action on who get's seriously injured by the landlord first, they'll be looking for their teeth when they come to.  I'm not a big man, but I can throw these things.

a bit more activity worthy of reading....

http://www.underwatertimes.com/news.php?article_id=41061538907