HMB 12/17- dead seal

Nate was nice enough to text me a picture asking me why I wasn't out on the water today.

-Allen

Nice!

Looks kinda like the one I saw...

Not likely  it  was  a shark. The  big  gash is  V shaped  from  one side to  the other?  a prop  does that  not  a sharks  mouth.

Not likely  it  was  a shark. The  big  gash is  V shaped  from  one side to  the other?  a prop  does that  not  a sharks  mouth.

The foreground of that picture shows a flap of fat facing the viewer.  The far side of that wound you can see the jagged edge of the bite.  Not shown in the picture are the puncture marks about two inches beyond the open wound that match the jagged edge. 

I don't get it.
Why take a bite of soft flavory blubber then pass on the rest?
It kind of ticks me off. Not that I have a love for furbags, but if you are going to start in on a meal, for crying out loud, finish it!
And yea, great crab bait.

That's why I ended my day.  I wasn't sure the diner has pass on the meal.  I didn't want to be near it if it came back.  One nick from anything sharp on my yacht and I'd be in big trouble.

Not likely  it  was  a shark. The  big  gash is  V shaped  from  one side to  the other?  a prop  does that  not  a sharks  mouth.

The foreground of that picture shows a flap of fat facing the viewer.  The far side of that wound you can see the jagged edge of the bite.  Not shown in the picture are the puncture marks about two inches beyond the open wound that match the jagged edge.

You can also see a series of puncture wounds to the right of the big gash.  I wouldn't think a prop would be able to make those types of wounds.

So, let's say there is a shark patrolling the HMB crabbing grounds, how long would you wait before heading out there again?  I was planning on going Friday.

-Allen

You might have to wait another 50 million years... Pretty sure there are always sharks there, just try not to think about it too much.

You might have to wait another 50 million years... Pretty sure there are always sharks there, just try not to think about it too much.

Oh I'm still planning on going on Friday.  Just wondering what other people's thought processes are.  Just because they are always out there doesn't mean we shouldn't attempt to be prudent.

My opinion ... this seal got hit on the reef and drifted to the inside crab grounds.  I'm not going to be anywhere near the reef anyway, and we don't usually see too many seals (shark food) on the inside either.

-Allen

I'm  going to 99 Ranch for my crab.   

That thing could been hit miles away and drifted close to the harbor.  The GWS could be anywhere. Go crabbing just don't dangle as much.

You might have to wait another 50 million years... Pretty sure there are always sharks there, just try not to think about it too much.

Oh I'm still planning on going on Friday.  Just wondering what other people's thought processes are.  Just because they are always out there doesn't mean we shouldn't attempt to be prudent.

My opinion ... this seal got hit on the reef and drifted to the inside crab grounds.  I'm not going to be anywhere near the reef anyway, and we don't usually see too many seals (shark food) on the inside either.

-Allen

GWS threat is part of what we do. Isn't it? But like Allen said better to stay on the side of caution although I have pushed it in the past.

It may have swam some distance before succumbing to the injuries.

Anyone want to guess how fresh that wound is?  Overall the seal doesn't look to "old", but that gash is turning brownish in places.

-Allen

probably just a Mavs nibbler who let their leftovers drift away

seriously though, it is sort of funny how jumpy such dangerous animals can be. Good thing to know .

probably just a Mavs nibbler who let their leftovers drift away

That's what I was thinking, although maybe not all the way over at Mavs.  I would think that a floating lump of meat from Mavs would get caught up in the jetty.  I'm thinking it occurred somewhere along the south face of the west jetty.  It's a straight shot (wind direction) from there to the crab grounds where it was spotted.

-Allen

This is clearly NOT the work of crows...because its anus is still intact.