Shark attack on Kayak Fisherman at Pigeon Point today!!! (Tuesday 11.22.2011)

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and thanks for the continued positive vibes. I spoke with Harry last night and he is doing as well as can be expected. I also spoke with Ralph, the shark research guy, Harry is going to get him some more measurements so he can estimate the size better.

A friend sent me this,only thing is who is my friend Sean Walker? Not predatory? WTF? Ralph says no doubt it was predatory or territorial...

http://www.surfline.com/surf-news/press-release/white-shark-attack-at-pigeon-point_62865/

Hey Ted, that first paragraph is what I posted in my facebook. Looks like the second paragraph was added on by the "so called" reporter 

Harry and Ted, that is quite an excellent adventure. very well told. glad you guys are okay. but yeah, it's not too big of a surprise really, 

Btw Mooch, you will see an ab diver died on that same spot sept 15 1984. omar conger. page 92 of ralph's book. shallow water. very similar sized shark.

Also, sharks are seen at waddel, but in general us surfers are in shallower water than any kayak. it's a big wave that breaks in 20 feet of water. a wave generally breaks in water that is 1.5 times its height (more or less), so you'd need a 14 foot swell to break in 20 feet of water.

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all. Thanks for all the well wishes, the support and the true kindness that comes from all of you. It's hard for me to try to post this because my emotions are just so overwhelming. I read some of your posts and it immediately takes me to tears. For the most part, it's all been well-wishers. For some, it's waving the boney finger. What happened Tuesday no one could have ever expected, especially me-- or Ted. I am a fucking diehard fisherman that maybe should have been more aware of the surroundings or the situation or the time of the year. Bottom line, we just wanted to go fishing.

Today being Thanksgiving, it really brings it home for me how truly grateful I really am to be among family and friends and how that all could could have just come to a screaming fucking end (sorry for the F-bombs, but that's the way I feel). This event has truly changed my outlook on life. I will continue to fish and share time on the water with you, my brothers. It's hard for me to send this to you right now because I can't see through my tears. I try to keep busy so I don't have to think about how that GWS shot me out of the kayak like I wasn't even there. It's a mental picture that I will never, ever forget. To those who have sent me PMs, give me time and I will respond. It's all you guys who have sent your well wishes, and your support and your love-- I am truly, truly grateful.

Once again, Happy Thanksgiving.
"Dropnpop" Harry

Glad you guys are ok. Nerve racking for sure, take care.

I say you are blessed and lucky, both for surviving (which I am very thankful for) as well as actually being part of the planet for a few very real moments(when you're the food...) and thank you for sharing the experience  :smt0

learn and heal fellow yakker

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all. Thanks for all the well wishes, the support and the true kindness that comes from all of you. It's hard for me to try to post this because my emotions are just so overwhelming. I read some of your posts and it immediately takes me to tears. For the most part, it's all been well-wishers. For some, it's waving the boney finger. What happened Tuesday no one could have ever expected, especially me-- or Ted. I am a fucking diehard fisherman that maybe should have been more aware of the surroundings or the situation or the time of the year. Bottom line, we just wanted to go fishing.

Today being Thanksgiving, it really brings it home for me how truly grateful I really am to be among family and friends and how that all could could have just come to a screaming fucking end (sorry for the F-bombs, but that's the way I feel). This event has truly changed my outlook on life. I will continue to fish and share time on the water with you, my brothers. It's hard for me to send this to you right now because I can't see through my tears. I try to keep busy so I don't have to think about how that GWS shot me out of the kayak like I wasn't even there. It's a mental picture that I will never, ever forget. To those who have sent me PMs, give me time and I will respond. It's all you guys who have sent your well wishes, and your support and your love-- I am truly, truly grateful.

Once again, Happy Thanksgiving.
"Dropnpop" Harry

God Bless you Harry.  Stay well and fish hard again. 

Wow ! Your Hobie OB did you well. I don"t think my p15 would have faired as well. You have a lot thicker plastic in that area of your hull.
Thanks for sharing your ordeal with us Harry, hope your having a great Thanksgiving....tight lines...Darin

Man, those Shark Shield thingy's are looking better and better.   Glad you guys are OK.  Well told.  A true Thanksgiving gift (that no one was hurt)!

Time to open a GWS fishery?

I'm sorry this happened, and am thankful you are both OK.  I can only imagine what the experience was like.  I'm glad you guys stuck together and made it out in one piece, and I admire your composure here on the board.

I fish that area regularly, though I slow down this time of year.  However, we had a sighting in May at PP and another in June at EKG.  I think the sharks are there all the time, but maybe more this time of year.  I'll continue to fish there - with precautions - and would be happy to go with either of you next time you venture out.

Mike

Glad everything worked out ok. I personally will not fish that area anymore. After all, it's just rockfish and there are lots of less sharky places to fish.

Glad everything worked out ok. I personally will not fish that area anymore. After all, it's just rockfish and there are lots of less sharky places to fish.

     

Ted and Harry,
I am grateful you guys came ashore intact and more grateful that you shared your experience publicly.  I'm acquainted with a few guys around the world who have been in the jaws of the white shark and they all have returned to the water.  The emotional impact will plateau and when it does, I look forward to fishing with you both!
Happy Thanksgiving Too All!

Harry - Glad to hear you came through this unscathed (physically, mentally will take a while to wear off).  It's great that it sounds like you're ready to get back on the horse and keep fishing.

Ted - Way to be a wingman and get your partner in to the beach.

You both get major kudos for being so cool headed in the video not long after the attack.

I've got the same boat as Harry and know where it won't be fishing anytime soon.

Wow. Glad everyone's OK.

To see those clean, neat puncture marks in the kayak is really very revealing. That's some power.

Sorry Ted, I kinda got quoted out of context on that surfline thing. It was late in the evening when my friend at surfline called me, and you & Harry had not posted the details yet so I didn't know the whole story.

This was definitely not an exploratory bite, certainly predatory, like the hit on Adams yak.
The point I was trying to make was that the shark was not trying to attack the paddler directly, only the kayak, and it was miscommunicated. I hate being quoted.

This was a powerful experience for both of you guys involved, and I in no way meant to diminish the severity of it.

-Sean