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

Glad to hear no one was hurt... November is a BIG month for shark research at Ano Nuevo due to the Elephant Seals pupping. 

great you weren't hurt! Mooche's stats say what it is. They are out there. Clear minds with a plan of action makes it as safe as it is going to get. Played in San Onofre the whole time i was in the Marine Corps.....didn't know, didn't care, AND didn't change the danger.

Glad to hear no one was hurt... November is a BIG month for shark research at Ano Nuevo due to the Elephant Seals pupping.

Very true but how come we never hear of any attacks on people who surf Waddell Creek? It's just a stones throw from Ano Nuevo.

Mooch, I'm no expert, and your point is interesting, I'm betting polution or fresh water flow from the creek. Course, I got skunked last weekend so what do I know?

I have a Hobie, I fish the biggest dropoffs I can find. Ya gotta fish where the fish are. IMHO. 

Glad you guys are ok. Totally insane. You have a lot to be thankful for this time of year!!!!

Anthony

Holy sh1t! I am glad you 2 are ok.

Pigeon Point is one of my favorite places to fish, although I tend to shy away from that place when autumn rolls around. It is less than 5 miles north of Ano Nuevo, closer than Bean Hollow! I always thought fishing in less than 30' of water was safe... until now.

Thanks Guys for your support and concerns.  At this very moment things are still shaky for me...I am up and down with my emotions.

Ted & I started out the day fishing the north side of the light house parallel to the big island, drifting north. Conditions were south winds (approx. 10-15 MPH), north swell, water was wind chop and lumpy. We were probably in the water 1-1/2 hours when I got hit. When I was hit by GW I thought I got hit by a boat, but the impact felt like being hit by a car. The impact/bite was directly under my seat (approx. mid ship). The impact was hard enough to send me airborne and flip my Outback...and I am 6'2" and weigh 235 lbs. I can't explain the sheer panic and fear I felt at that very moment. I landed in the water and have never scurried so quickly to get back to the kayak that was still upside down. Ted witnessed the shark's reentry into the water and saw the last half of the shark's body. So apparently, the shark had enough velocity to go airborne.

Ted came over to assist and calm me down, but I was still in panic mode. And, all I wanted to do was get out of there. Ted came along side and I grabbed the handle on the back side of his kayak and he started to paddle us in. Because my kayak was still upside down it created a drift sock effect and along with the conditions it made it almost impossible to gain any ground. Ted had his hands full trying to get us in.

The decision was made that I would have to go back into the water and right the kayak. It took a long time before I finally went back into the water fearing GW may be lurking. Once we righted the kayak we headed for shore. But because of the punctures, my kayak was slowly being swamped which made it difficult to maneuver. I had to use my paddle as outriggers to keep the kayak from flipping again. The entire time all I could yell out was F--K, F--K, F--k...I just wanted to literally run across the water to get to the beach!

Thanks TED for the assistance and support.

I know who rules the roost, and now I know who the land lord is and it has my deepest respect.
 
Harry

So glad your OK Harry and thank you for sharing your experience!!! And a big thank you to Ted for taking care of a brother!!! 

F--K

So glad you two are ok. It must be a really big shark. I do not want to go there. Shark shield is a must for these places.

 

Thanks for sharing your story with us Harry! I can only imagine what the re entry to right the yak felt like!!! Not to mention the entire paddle in constantly thinking you are about to get hit again!!

Really glad to hear you guys are okay. Super bummed to hear about yet another attack on my favorite section of local coast. 

So were you guys hit right out front of the little bay by prisoner rock or more like due west of the lighthouse?

I've always been on guard there but felt (foolishly) that if I stayed near the kelp beds I should be okay....


-Eliot

Wow! I just saw this. So glad you guys are both ok. I don't fish in the ocean much, but I do think of this when I'm out there. 20' FOW was my first thought too.

I am glad you are ok Harry.  That is absolutly insane.  INSANE! 
My nuts wen't into my stomach when you said...You had to get  back into the water to "right the kayak."
Holy Mother of Pearl!!!  Dam.  Dam. Dam.

200-250yds due north of prisoner rock

Man, so glad you guys are physcially ok, I know it may take some time to mentally ok.

JIm