Shark Shield vs. GWS

I use to go out all the time without one.never crossed my mind until i talked to a few members who met the landlord.havnt been out since

After two encounters, purchased a S.S. haven't seen another till the day I snagged a hook in it  and turned it off to clear the hook ...... 20 minutes later a G.W. grabbed the front of my yak and made me a believer. Always on when I'm offshore bt myself.
Another benefit  ....
Battery lasts about 7 hours so if I dont turn it on till I'm heading offshore, it will remind me to be back in for dinner and keep the wife happy.
;0)

Ocean Guardian has a new model that would work for two kayaks if you could stay withing 19' of each other. Pricey though at $2,999.00. Cheaper to buy two Freedom7s.

https://sharkshield.com/product/ocean-guardian-boat01/

I wish they had a kayak model  that would last longer, mine starts beeping (20% remaining) after about 4 hours. My usual time on the water is around 6 hours.   

Bought mine in the group buy last year. OTD for about $465 which is pricey but it does give you some piece of mind. I'm not so worried about getting eaten as I am about getting toothy, exploratory holes in my $3k 2019 Outback! Been on the salt for about 9 years and haven't seen one yet, but I'm not always the most observant of such things! How can you tell if there are sharks in the water? Is the water salty? Sharks in the water!

I've told myself over and over how irrational it is to worry about sharks - the old "its more likely you'll die in a car accident on the way there" self-talk, but after not being able to sleep the other night thinking about a solo mission in the fog in sharky waters, I ordered a SS from Ocean Guardian.  I wanted the official record of purchase in case there was a warranty issue so paid full price.  Took about 10 days to arrive on my doorstep.  Haven't used it yet, but instant placebo effect!  I'm totally unafraid of sharks now!  LOL. 

I don’t have one, and actually haven’t even seriously considered buying one.

The odds are in our favor, and a small (ok not that small) part of me hopes that I get to see another GW at semi close range. (Saw one circle a 15 foot boat that I was fishing from off Port San Luis years ago - it got within 5-6 feet of the boat, and I still savor that moment).




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I use my SS on every trip out. I've had about a 13 footer circle and follow me, had another hit my buddy's kayak and breach (that one was only maybe 10ft), and had about a 12 footer circle me.
The last encounter I had the shield on and as soon as the fish hit the pulse it took off. It was just checking me out, and responded exactly as I expected it would once it hit the electric field.

Unfortunately it’s just a matter of time..........

I have 3 one for me and one each for my sons.

Saw one last year while spearfishing with lots of blood in the water.
We had our sharks shields on then and returned to that same spot again this year also wearing our SSs.

Dove comfortably with little thought of the landlord.

We won’t be in or OTW without one.

Over protective dad? Maybe but I can live with that monicker

Maybe because I grew up surfing these waters, but I don't personally worry about white sharks.  The chances of getting attacked is slim, and the chances of being hurt while attacked even smaller.

I feel much safer on the kayak than I do on a surfboard. 

Thanks guys for all the great info and stories!

Maybe because I grew up surfing these waters, but I don't personally worry about white sharks.  The chances of getting attacked is slim, and the chances of being hurt while attacked even smaller.

I feel much safer on the kayak than I do on a surfboard.

in high school, we pretty much surf linda mar with no fear of gws. i used to see charter boats in close while waiting for sets. now, i'm scared to go in the water, lol. luckily i have a hard piece of plastic between me and the water now, oh and a ss in tow.

remember it happened not to long ago

https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/11/24/shark-attacks-spear-fisherman-at-stillwater-cove-in-pebble-beach/

I don’t have one, and actually haven’t even seriously considered buying one.

The odds are in our favor, and a small (ok not that small) part of me hopes that I get to see another GW at semi close range. (Saw one circle a 15 foot boat that I was fishing from off Port San Luis years ago - it got within 5-6 feet of the boat, and I still savor that moment).

The one you see lollygagging around your kayak is not the one you need to worry about...

apologies if this has been covered elsewhere, i couldn't find it.

For those that deploy the SS while salmon fishing, are you concerned with the line getting tangled on the long electrode cord when hooked up with a fish?  Do you have a strategy to turn it off and get it out of the water before bringing the fish in?  Just curious - when a fish is in close and wants to run, i will bring my rudder up and would like everything out of the water to prevent any tangles...but i imagine the SS would shock the hell out of me if i just tried to pull it up...

Thanks all

apologies if this has been covered elsewhere, i couldn't find it.

For those that deploy the SS while salmon fishing, are you concerned with the line getting tangled on the long electrode cord when hooked up with a fish?  Do you have a strategy to turn it off and get it out of the water before bringing the fish in?  Just curious - when a fish is in close and wants to run, i will bring my rudder up and would like everything out of the water to prevent any tangles...but i imagine the SS would shock the hell out of me if i just tried to pull it up...

Thanks all

no, i'd be more worried about the DR line if you use one.  i just leave mine in once deployed.  i often forget to bring it up when landing though.