Bought a shark shield

I've never come across a big shark but with all the sightings and my wanting to be out there as much as possible (and usually solo) I thought it might ease my mind. Very expensive but I'm buying into the fact that it works and easing my mind makes it worth it. Hopefully I don't have an interaction but if I do I'll report it. I've researched the shark shield but I welcome any feedback. I assume people with negative feedback are not around to report it. (Bad joke)

Hope you never need it but if it screws with the Sharks sensors and he avoids human contact that's a good thing.   I can only imaging that will remind him humans are no good and move on in the future.  And if you know otherwise don't tell me. 

If the sharks are deterred by Shark Shield's electronic emitted field, and sharks are fish, wouldn't it also deter all fish?  Doesn't sound too practical to install on a fishing kayak unless you don't mind getting skunked.

If the sharks are deterred by Shark Shield's electronic emitted field, and sharks are fish, wouldn't it also deter all fish?  Doesn't sound too practical to install on a fishing kayak unless you don't mind getting skunked.

Does not effect fish as they do not have the same sensor a shark or ray.

Now if your shark fishing I would say yeah your odds go down.

I have not noticed a decrease in my catching since using mine the last 6 months.

Rhyak, do you by chance have a picture of how yours is set up?  I have an idea of what I'm going to do but curious of other options.

If the sharks are deterred by Shark Shield's electronic emitted field, and sharks are fish, wouldn't it also deter all fish?  Doesn't sound too practical to install on a fishing kayak unless you don't mind getting skunked.

Does not effect fish as they do not have the same sensor a shark or ray.

Now if your shark fishing I would say yeah your odds go down.

I have not noticed a decrease in my catching since using mine the last 6 months.

Thanks!  I'm not so worried about sharks as I am with aggressive sea lions.  I know "sea bombs" and 308's are effective in dealing with sea lions, but law enforcement takes a rather dim view on their use.

Rhyak, do you by chance have a picture of how yours is set up?  I have an idea of what I'm going to do but curious of other options.

I have a hobie with the vantage seat. I Velcro mine to the back of the seat and run it down through the scupper hole.

I think they are a huge waste of money and impractical for kayaking/ diving.

Shark shield can only be effective with a shark <3' of it.

GWS travel at speeds upwards of 35 mph or almost 5 feet per second.

Sharks ambush and charge their prey at high speeds. Even if a shark was deterred by this changing it's mind within <3' while going 5 FPS seems highly unlikely to me.

Most shark attacks have been because of poor visibility and the shark mistaking an outline for something else, not getting really close slowly and deciding to take a bite.

Just my thoughts. Never would waste my money on one. If I got one for free I would sell it.

I think they are a huge waste of money and impractical for kayaking/ diving.

Shark shield can only be effective with a shark <3' of it.

GWS travel at speeds upwards of 35 mph or almost 5 feet per second.

Sharks ambush and charge their prey at high speeds. Even if a shark was deterred by this changing it's mind within <3' while going 5 FPS seems highly unlikely to me.

Most shark attacks have been because of poor visibility and the shark mistaking an outline for something else, not getting really close slowly and deciding to take a bite.

Just my thoughts. Never would waste my money on one. If I got one for free I would sell it.

To each their own.

I think that's a shortsighted way of looking at things.

They have the videos of its effectiveness against GWS. While they don't completely eliminate interactions they do decrease them.

If a GWS really wants to take a shot at you, it will. But if there's a chance that it will stop one, or at least decrease the severity of an interaction that should be/is enough.

That possibility was enough for me to make the purchase.

I think they are a huge waste of money and impractical for kayaking/ diving.

Shark shield can only be effective with a shark <3' of it.

GWS travel at speeds upwards of 35 mph or almost 5 feet per second.

Sharks ambush and charge their prey at high speeds. Even if a shark was deterred by this changing it's mind within <3' while going 5 FPS seems highly unlikely to me.


Most shark attacks have been because of poor visibility and the shark mistaking an outline for something else, not getting really close slowly and deciding to take a bite.

Just my thoughts. Never would waste my money on one. If I got one for free I would sell it.

To each their own.

I think that's a shortsighted way of looking at things.

They have the videos of its effectiveness against GWS. While they don't completely eliminate interactions they do decrease them.

If a GWS really wants to take a shot at you, it will. But if there's a chance that it will stop one, or at least decrease the severity of an interaction that should be/is enough.

That possibility was enough for me to make the purchase.

I think THAT is the shortsighted way of looking at their "proof"... Look at their studies on them. They all seem skewed to me, and not replicable of how any of us would be using them.

It's your money and peace of mind is priceless. Even if it's false. I guess one way to look at it is after a "test bite" it may be deterred from coming back and hopefully you aren't dead/ bleeding to death quickly. In that scenario I guess it would help.

I never said it was the be all/end all shark be gone, just that there was a possibility that it could help.

Well it all boils down to this: we preach being safe here. We spend a lot of money on gear to be safe. If this machine could make us safer, why not?

I think it helps. The research is there. Sure as fuck cant hurt.

It can hurt my wallet. Aren't those things like 400 bucks?

To each their own. If you have the money to blow why not? It definitely can't do harm. But they chances of being attacked are already so low, and to add the CHANCE that it might, just maybe alter one if it happens? Pretty narrowing odds. I think i'd rather put that money towards something else for safety, if safety was the concern.

Like you said, to each their own. To me it seems silly. Like wearing water wings in a kiddie pool. At some point it seems like silly overkill. But safety is safety, if you can and it doesn't hurt, why not?

Here's a Shark Shield  on sale at CL.  If I had the extra $$ I'd be all over it.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/spo/5032689343.html

I bought a SS after Adam got hit at the Bean. It probably won't stop the initial missle attack but will probably repel drive byes. Our kayaks protect us really well from the initial attack unlike surf boards. It's what happens after the initial attack that you have to worry about and where the SS might save your life. In Adam's attack, the shark came back after the initial attack for second helpings. I think if you can afford it, I think it is worth owning, however, dollar for dollar a PLB is probably a better investment as far as expensive safety equipment. PLB's have saved thousands of lives and you can use it hiking also.

I stopped using my SS several years ago and recently gave it to a friend who fishes Davenport frequently. I don't fish SMC, Capitola and Leffingwell anymore and usually fish with a buddy. Lot's of less sharky areas to catch rockfish.

Scott