Local kayak fisherman knocked off his boat last week. GWS

I just had an entertaining chat with a Santa Cruz guy, Matt Porath.  We've met and talked at the launch ramp before.  He paddles out nearly every sunday from the harbor. He's not on the board, hope he may join up soon.

 Last Sunday, just shy of the Mile buoy, he got hit from below and behind.  Back left side of his OK Scrambler.  He says the boat lifted about 2 feet in the air, and he was in the water before he knew it. "Underwater with my upside down boat on top of me."

Like any of us in that position, he miraculously righted the boat and got back on top in a matter of seconds. "I just remember thinking "Do NOT fall back in the water....."

He never saw the shark, and paddled in immediately.  Didn't have a radio his is broken right now.  He says his wife is going to buy him a new one, and that he wants to get back out as soon as possible.

We've had these "adolescent" GWS in the area all summer, again This was probably one of the bigger ones? Maybe 10-foot? 12?  Bite marks on the boat measured 15-inches?  I guess August through December is the most likely time to have a GWS encounter.  Glad he is OK, and happy he's not  off-put by the experience

Bushy

Dang and glad he's ok...

Glad he is ok. Ripped that boat like a razor !

Alex

Ugh! That is some scary shit.

Wow! It’s great that he’s OK and most impressed that he’s going to get back out there soon.

Also, glad that I never fish in those shark-infested waters...

Haha.   About 300 yards away from where I saw "the biggest fucking mola-mola ever!" last summer.  Ask Mr. Matt or Polepole. haha

Thought it was a sunfish it was so wide (or deep- top to bottom), but I couldn't see a nose nor tail.  Just kept cruising by like boxcars on a train.  Mine just cruised by like an arcing flyby, about 5 feet down on the edge of the murk.  We kept fishing.  then we told Mr Matt once we reached the harbor.

So, they can be anywhere.  Also, Matt Porath says he never fishes Bean Hollow, "Just too spooky."

He WAS wearing his pfd.  I offered him my extra radio to borrow, but his wife is buying him one..... Must have been a long paddle back to the Harbor.  Just sayin'

Bushy

scary man. 

Being new the the idea of kayak fishing, I have been doing a ton of research.  Of course, GWS interactions are of interest, and I read all the threads I can find on them.  So many of the people who have had interactions like this still go back out on subsequent trips.  I wonder if I would.  I dont know.  Being knocked into the air, then submerged in the water with an apex predator seems terrifying.

I wonder, too.   Probably would just because NCKA would give me too much guff if I didn't.

Bushy

That's scary. Glad he is okay.

HOLY SHIT!!  it meant business by the looks (depth of those teeth marks) YIKKES! Glad to read that he is ok and no blood was shed.

HOLY SHIT!!  it meant business by the looks (depth of those teeth marks) YIKKES! Glad to read that he is ok and no blood was shed.

Spoken by one who KNOWS

Stoopid molas!!!!

  I guess August through December is the most likely time to have a GWS encounter.  Glad he is OK, and happy he's not  off-put by the experience

Bushy

 
Talking to Ralph Collier of the Shark Research Committee after my attack, he says they usually start to show up in Norther California around July and stay through October.
It appears they find areas to feed and hang out for a month or two before moving on.
If he hasn't already, have him go to www.sharkresearchcommittee.com and report the attack.
Glad he is OK, and willing to get back out there
;0)

ugh. so gnarly.