Shark Shield ???

When with everyone out on the water, I have it deployed, but do not turn it on as;

There is a theory, and a Good one, that it actually attracts GWS..  and I could never get over having someone attack nearby,  even though this theory is unproven…

My thought is it's better than nothing, and if I get the chance, after the first strike, I would maybe have time turn it on, which is also a fat chance as turning that round knob is not that easy,  especially under duress…. 

On the other hand with Family or by myself,  it's on…

I did get the chance to turn it on during an Islander excursion at the Cortez Bank with some small Mako's…  you would have thought the water was on fire with them going ariel…  pretty kool...

If you read the report posted earlier, the authors found no evidence in any of the tests that the SS attracts sharks. What youre describing is an untested hypothesis that, although not directly tested, could be inferred from other tests on the efficacy of the SS to be unfounded.

I have two of them, one for me, one for shark_bait.  I have to nag him to keep it charged and in the hull.  I keep my charged and in the hull.  After reading the report, I may go ahead and deploy it while on the move.

I ran my SS at Bodega when I passed the seal haul out and when I fished Dux this year. I usually turn it off when I get to deeper water (> 70 FOW) but based on this last attack which was at 75 FOW, I may keep it on in really sharky areas.

Whats the cost on one of them s.s do hickeys

I haven't ever been scared off the water or anything, but I have had some weird feelings while bobbing around out there, that's for sure. As far as the SS goes, I believe in it. I need to buy one, nothing like peace of mind. I will never fish the (what I consider) ultra sharky areas like BH or Davenport. I'd definitely like to have one when fishing in the ocean, cause you really never know, it's a gamble every single time.

how many attacks equals a sharky area like bean hollow. Are there monthly sightings there?

here is the cover of this months time...just in case you have not been in a check out isle lately hahaha

how many attacks equals a sharky area like bean hollow. Are there monthly sightings there?

If you base it on the number of reported attacks and the places we fish these are the top 3 shakiest places

Bean Hollow/Pigeon Point
Kayak 7/2007
Kayak 8/2010
Kayak 11/2011

Cambria Moonstone Beach
Surfer 9/2002
Kayak 5/2012
Kayak 12/2013

Mavericks/Pilar Point HMB
Surfer 9/2000
Surfer 11/2005
Surfer 8/2013

It's interesting that a lot of Kayakers fish out of HMB Including myself but there has never been a sighting or attack.

In the 1 attack category are
Linda Mar (kayak)
Capitola/Pleasure Point (kayak)
Monterey/Cannery Row (diver)
Stinson (surfer)
Santa Cruz/Davenport (surfer)
Avila (swimmer)

If you include shark sightings, I think Moonstone Beach/Leffingwell Landing is equally Sharky as Bean Hollow. Both BH and Leffingwell are close to major seal rookeries (ano Nuevo, Piedras Blancas) and both have year round sightings suggesting that some sharks are resident and non-migratory.

thank you for the really good synopsis Scott, it shows me exactly where not to go

I would think that changing the profile of the kayak from narrow seal/sea lion shape would be more effective than a "shark shield". Add an outrigger of sorts with a tramp and the shark no longer sees his customary prey shape.

I think the chance of GWS attack while kayak fishing is minimal. It is fear and fascination with an unaccustomed and unseen threat while being out of our usual earthy environment that really gets our attention. Think about all the dangerous stuff we commonly do off the water and think little of it. Many of you, maybe most, have ridden bikes on roads. You share space with hurtling 3,000 pound vehicles piloted by supposedly safe licensed  drivers but some may be drunk, texting, inattentive, etc. More dangerous than sharks for sure but we find that danger easier to swallow simply because we are used to it.

I have one and it's always on just in case (bought it online for ~575). I know that it might not be 100% effective but I'm okay with it lessening the chances of an encounter by any percentage. It won't stop a missile type attack of course -- maybe just keep the curious ones away. The downside is the battery lasts for only ~6 hours and there's no way to pop in a replacement battery.

I recall seeing a documentary about abalone divers in Australia and this one diver had been attacked 10 years prior. He had a SS and said that the most dangerous time was when they were surfacing. With that said, he was coming up after a run and was attacked by 2 GWS.

Charles - I've also been wondering whether the outrigger/tramps would greatly lessen the chance of attacks.

Here's a link to a map of shark attacks by CA county thru 2012. Obviously needs the 2013 updates. A number of attacks from Humboldt Co., Eureka-Trinidad area.  Also fatalities off Baker Beach  in SF (1958/9) and SF Bay (1920s).


http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/statistics/gattack/mapca.htm

I have one and it's always on just in case (bought it online for ~575). I know that it might not be 100% effective but I'm okay with it lessening the chances of an encounter by any percentage. It won't stop a missile type attack of course -- maybe just keep the curious ones away. The downside is the battery lasts for only ~6 hours and there's no way to pop in a replacement battery.

I recall seeing a documentary about abalone divers in Australia and this one diver had been attacked 10 years prior. He had a SS and said that the most dangerous time was when they were surfacing. With that said, he was coming up after a run and was attacked by 2 GWS.

Actually, the report posted earlier says the opposite. It was more affective against breach attacks than slow investigation.   

Two surfers attacked violently off Marina State Beach within 4 years of each other. And the second hit was within 50ft of the first.
-Aug 2007 (blue board, est 13ft gws)
-Oct 2011 (red board, est 16ft gws)
We normally associate sharky area with the presence of seals/sealions, BUT I think dolphin activity also increases the likelihood of GWS. Because the beach at Reservation Rd is not a seal haul out--it seems like a nondescript beach in the middle of Monterey bay. But there is a lot of dolphin activity--perhaps due to the current that's created by underwater topography? (also why it's a decent surf spot) Dolphins were present during both attacks. The guy who was attacked in 2007 actually believes the dolphins saved him--they started going nuts while the shark had him...jumping over the shark then trying to get between him & the shark after it let him go.

From an article written after the second attack in 2011:
Local surfers want to know what’s attracting sharks to their beloved beachbreak. “I have to wonder if it’s due to all the dolphin traffic,” said Sean Van Sommeran, Executive Director of the Santa Cruz-based Pelagic Shark Research Foundation. “There are a lot of harbor porpoises and dolphins going by on a daily basis, as well as seals and birds."