Preparing to die at Bean Hollow

As much as I understand the romanticism of the whole thing about dying while doing what you love, what scares the hell out of me is the terror in the moments before all goes black!

That said, I'll go back there again . . . when the dUdE who first invited me to fish there goes back. 

This thread has got me thinking about why kayak shops, and especially those ones out on the coast, don't offer shark-shields for rent. Either by themselves or as an option with a rental kayak. Seems like this would be a money maker and if I could I would rent one for the day sometimes. Adam, sorry this is a little off topic and hope to see you OTW soon. jim

Is it really that much safer to drive a longer ways to safer waters, but still risk your neck just as much with the increased time on the road?

Lol, I drive a big effing truck with seatbelts and airbags, so my answer is yes.....driving is safer. I'd feel differently if I drove a smart car.   : )

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So Adam, I must ask....Have you been salt fishing at all since your experience?

I'm not sure if anyone's really much safer in other ocean waters off California.  Yes, that is the Red triangle, but BH also got a lot of yak-fishing traffic.  Up here in Mendo, I guess it's not the Red Triangle, but we get hits and reports of near misses all the time.

I would really like those shark shields to work.  Yeah, the "dying doing what you love to do," sounds great, and when it's my time that'll be fine.........but I'm really not ready to go yet.  I still got a bunch of shit i want to do.

This thread has got me thinking about why kayak shops, and especially those ones out on the coast, don't offer shark-shields for rent. Either by themselves or as an option with a rental kayak. Seems like this would be a money maker and if I could I would rent one for the day sometimes. Adam, sorry this is a little off topic and hope to see you OTW soon. jim

now there's an idea!

Sorry Adam I feel for you dude but all I can say is I'm not fishing it when your around

Thanks for posting this Adam, Just makes us realize the danger we face everytime we go out there, I love BH this is where I learned pretty much everything, I never go out by myself anywhere in the Ocean, I have a simple philosophy in life, if its your its your time, whether your inside or outside your house, I saw my Father passed away in front of me while having lunch, I've witness an accident that no one could have survived but all passengers came out unscratched, I've heard of people die in asleep, so I realized everyday could be our time, why not live it to its fullest with no regrets, Like BigJim said, I kissed my family Goodbye and tell them I love them all the time, I even say it before I go to sleep...just in case I wont wake up, we all have responsibilities all we got to do is prepare them if anything happen. knock on woods...

Besides I dont have a "Red" Kayak or has any "Paint" underneath

Thanks for the pictures Adam, good reminder of what lurks there. I was thinking about going out before Sharktober, but Mike's report ended that idea. That and remembering the time I was out there fishing alone. Sitting in a spot far offshore I had something bump the back of my boat hard, looked back and saw nothing but water the color of chocolate milk.
Kayak fishing just hasn't been the same since last year. I miss the good times we had fishing there.   

I might go for the star formation if there was a big enough group.

Dave, i'm guessing you have even more time spent OTW down there then me or anyone i know = Fact#1 and now the total is up another number.

I have to agree with Darius, when it's your time, it's your time. I am a believer in fate. Having said that, a shark won't attack you on land but the fishing isn't so good from land sometimes... Like Adam is saying, are you prepared? We all make choices in life, and we are all going to die someday. Love you guys.

love you too Sara    and stay away from this place.

I also cannot even compare my opinion to someone who has experienced an encounter firsthand, and the numbers don't lie, but did anyone so much as shed a drop of blood? (Yeah, I know, I think I remember that you got nipped, right Adam?) Sure, the chance of an encounter might be good, but that doesn't mean that you're going to end up as crab-bait. You'll simply be left with a severe case of PTSD. No biggie. (Note, sarcasm).
I, for one, would rather meet my end in such a primal way, rather than health reasons, or car wrecks. It's even more honorable than being boarded by a seal, knocked over, and perishing by exposure/hypothermia. I hate the furbags! More power to the Landlord. Come to think of it, it is very cool that they are there, that they get to exist in this modern world. What fun is anything w/o the risk?

Juan~ i was lucky a HELL. As it was driving me in circles, my kayak sideways in its mouth, grinding & chocking on it, mouth fully agaped. My chest/pfd stuck in the concaved seat area from the force of the water, backwards! I was slowly sinking deeper&deeper as the force&weight of my lower body was getting burried under my yak. I had a two handed grip on each handle, but i remember one slipping off. It did not nip me, but when my feet&legs were flaying underneath, and the fact that its mouth was completly open, my right shoe was severed, gashed and pulled off, while my neo-booty had 2 triangular teeth holes completly bitten through. My left shin kicked her in the mouth too. Resuling in a puncture wound w/perferrations. The beast had it's mouth fully opened and was not stopping the attack. I could have easily gotten pulled by either foot, losing my last grip on the handle and popping up right next to it.  Do you think it would have stopped?  = LUCKY AS HELL and i dont think the next person is gonna have a rabbits foot on hand or in their tacke box.
I do agree on the honorable way to go out,,,,,,,and my dream dam near came true. now i gotta look both ways before i cross the street.....and i will be driving more this season. that hill at Elk at shit!

Besides I dont have a "Red" Kayak or has any "Paint" underneath

i know you are a comedian, but there is NOTHING FUNNY or anything to laugh about here.

Its true we are all gonna kick the bucket some day. But I prefer not to be eaten alive or bitten once, bleeding out, and having the coast guard find my body 10 days later with all the soft flesh eaten off my face by fish and crabs. Just sayin

If i get a choice, i'll die in my bed after a long, lucid and happy life and having a wonderful last day with my children, grand children and great-grandchildren ...since i don't get a choice i'll limit my exposure.

I doubt kayak color and/or paint have anything to do with it, but if it makes you feel better, go with it.

Do I think my beer sacrifice/mojo necklace did anything for me last time? Dunno, but we came back to the beach o.k. and I'll continue my little ritual anytime I launch there. Fishermen are superstitious types so its not that nuts.
BUT, I'll still put most faith in thick plastic and supplemental flotation, as well as some idea of the behavior of the big creatures.

I'm game for a nice group fish. It's more fun when you are close enough to talk anyway. I'm not chomping at the bit, but I'll do it with the right bunch.

As much as I understand the romanticism of the whole thing about dying while doing what you love, what scares the hell out of me is the terror in the moments before all goes black!

That said, I'll go back there again . . . when the dUdE who first invited me to fish there goes back. 

i will go back DuDe, you will be alerted when it happens.......and yes my friend, i experinced that moment, but it did not go all black(justAhazyDARKNESSisLEFTbehind)

I can only hope that whomever escorts Adam has the courtesy and presence of mind to sneek up behind him and give his yak a good tug.   

Jack~ that would not be cool. Please dont anyone do this to me, please. I am already suffering from ptsd and its getting worse by the day.

So Adam, I must ask....Have you been salt fishing at all since your experience?

Dave~ yes i have, but not back there. I went out three times and each time i was just feeling/waiting to get hit again. I saw a bull kelp head on the water, i knew i was going to drift over it, but even though i knew it was there, when i did hit it, it scared the shit out of me and my heart was in my throat.
~~~here is a side effect from the encouter. EVERYTIME i turn a blind corner while walking, or open a door w/o knowing whats behind it, I prepare for an attack. HOWstrangeISthat??

I doubt kayak color and/or paint have anything to do with it, but if it makes you feel better, go with it.

Do I think my beer sacrifice/mojo necklace did anything for me last time? Dunno, but we came back to the beach o.k. and I'll continue my little ritual anytime I launch there. Fishermen are superstitious types so its not that nuts.
BUT, I'll still put most faith in thick plastic and supplemental flotation, as well as some idea of the behavior of the big creatures.

I'm game for a nice group fish. It's more fun when you are close enough to talk anyway. I'm not chomping at the bit, but I'll do it with the right bunch.

Sean~ you keep doing your thing......cuz i too, am superstitious to a point. See my repaired yak? it saved my life!

Adam I'm sure bringing up this event doesn't help you mentally.... Have you seen A psychotherapist? Sounds like it really messed you up bro! Don't really know how it would affect me but quit frankly I never want to find out... You going back to the Bean probably wouldn't help you...IMO.... But when your ready....Let me know!

Thank you, Adam, for posting a not-so-subtle reminder of the dangers lurking near Bean Hollow (and the greater San Mateo coastline). You do it because you care.

Your experience and your message could potentially save someone's life.
That is...IF they take note & heed the warnings. Because there seems to have been a lot of kayak-fishing traffic in that area during the last year or so. And unfortunately, there seems to be a lot of inexperienced/ocean-newbies fishing that area. The Bean is NOT a good place to "learn to kayakfish the ocean." 

But old salty vets need to take note, as well. Because the landlord doesn't give a crap who you are. That is why it is important for everyone to understand the situation & what we can do to prepare. People will always fish there from yaks. But the smart person will review all of the information available and then make an informed decision. 
And it's a personal decision that each person has to make for themselves. For example, I wouldn't fish the Bean in Sept or October because the research (official and unofficial) indicates there are more white sharks in the area during that time. So why the F' would I risk my life by stacking the odds against me any further? [I'm already fishing from a 14-foot piece of plastic in the Pacific Ocean, and that's pretty dangerous in itself, yet easy to take for granted]
Like DaveW said (awesome quote btw):
the "dying doing what you love to do," sounds great, and when it's my time that'll be fine.........but I'm really not ready to go yet.  I still got a bunch of shit i want to do.

Don your right and I didnt mean it in that way sometimes I have A hard time in wording my opinion in the right way..... It DOES help to talk about it dont know what I really meant to say there.