Shark attack at Bean Hollow - 7/21/07

We're the intruders floating around in their territory so let's have some respect for them.

Z

That's some hippy-dippy sh1t Z. Would you let a Grizzly into your neighborhood park?

I think you've had one too many granola bars,  .

the open ocean is one thing, 200 yards from the populated coast is another.

just think we need an alternate viewpoint on this particular point. look, humans own the
earth, for better or worse. we choose to let the GWS live, it's not like we couldn't basically
hunt them to extinction if we wanted.

They are cool, but they are a real life sea monster. no bones about it.

point needs to be made.

J

So you're saying the great whites can hang out offshore but for them to come within 200 yards of the beach is unreasonable? What do you suggest as a solution? Killing them all? Or maybe you want to paddle out and explain boundaries to sharks? Sharks live in the ocean and that's that, and this is not the same as letting grizzlies roam Golden Gate Park...there are lakes with big stripers for people who want to avoid sharks. I hope this doesn't turn into a Fish and Game shark hunt/revenge mission (like the coyotes in GGP)...after all, they are protected.

Kickfish, I've been in on surgery where we saved a guy with a 10 inch bucher knife wound through both sides of his 3/4 inch wide inferior vena cava (the vessel that returns most of your blood to your heart).  He had no pulse or blood pressure on arrival.  We saved him.

If you swallowed an ounce of draino--there would be nothing we could do.  It would burn your guts out.  Targeting vital organs can make a difference!  I would think sharks have less sensitivity to surface lacerations (unless you get an eye). Like Lings getting spiked in the gut by rockfish, its probably just part of growing up in their world.  Stuff happens and you heal. But a red hot belly...now that might be a novel experience!

WOW! This is an amazing story. I have been thinking about it for the past two days.

Very glad to hear Dan (the lurker  ) is OK.
THAT is the most important detail. But...I would really really like to hear from him. [As opposed to a bunch of bickering about this-and-that] The response from NCKA members has been outstanding; a sign that this community of ours is truly a great brotherhood (and sisterhood!) of kayakers. One big happy family.
However, I can assure you that there are a lot of non-members viewing the ongoing story. So lets keep it civil. And on-topic.

Lets hear moere accounts of what people on the water saw and heard about the attack. Or, better yet, lets hear from the Man of the Hour!

Thanks for the accounts. I am riveted by this story!
PK

I have to agree it would be good to get Dan's first and only post,  . lurkers rule!

but I have to laugh at people really believing the yum-yum-yellow thing.

or that painting black stripes will keep them away. cause it "makes sense". nothing makes sense
till you've seen it again and again. 

we haven't seen too much of this, we don't have a clear idea of what is going on. you can't really
count on your common sense too much.

I'm floored that somebody could be attacked and not know it, that's hilarious!

andrew, I'm actually with you on this, but for different reasons. however, somebody needs to temper
the typical status quo of "they have a right to be there". they don't have a right. for better or worse,
and it could be worse, I agree, we choose. if you want to choose to let them chew on a kayak once in a while, fine.
but don't go all mystical and sentimental on me,  .

J

You guys without flotation in your yaks.  May want to get some.  I use about 15 to 18 pool noodles in mine.  May take a while to get back to land.  But, I know it won't sink.

Ken kickfish

A shark attack was one of my biggest fears when I bought my kayak and the first thing I did was install 4 large noodles in my P15.  If you have a P15, please look at my original post (http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/bb/index.php?topic=3590.msg29978#msg29978) and you will see a picture of the noodles that I am referencing.  I tied them together to make sure they would not come out if a big hole was made by a shark or rock.  My biggest fear was my kayak sinking which leaves you helplessly floating in the water.  My thought was if my kayak continues to float, the shark would eventually realize it was an inanimate object and leave me alone.  Of course, the story changes if I have fish on board.

I'm just glad no one was hurt in this incident.  I think we need to really start thinking about the buddy system a little more seriously every time we fish in the ocean.  No fish is worth our lives and if someone is nearby our chances of surviving an incident increases. 

If I were not "on-call", I would have been at this event.  I'm glad to hear no one was hurt.

Luis

look, humans own the earth, for better or worse. we choose to let the GWS live, it's not like we couldn't basically hunt them to extinction if we wanted.
They are cool, but they are a real life sea monster. no bones about it.
point needs to be made.
J

What a lame thing to say..  

Z

  When and if I purchase my next yak ,it is definitely not going to be the color red or anything similar.
   Was the landlord perhaps practicing catch and release.

Hey Marmite,

No thanks.  I can give you arsine, metal organic and any  you what.  Worked in LED's and Laser's for 15 years

Ken kickfish

I'm still shaken by what had happened to Dan. After all, it could have happened to any of us out there that day. There were 17 kayaks on the water on the day of the attack, some kayaks were yum-yum yellow in color, some kayaks were shorter that others, others had fish dangling on the side of their yaks, others were on the move while others were simply drifting. IMO: Dan just happen to be on the path of this hungry / curious shark. I'm just glad Dan is alright  

Message to Dan - post when you feel like posting. Hope to see you soon!

I agree with Sin Coast... let's get this thing back on topic. 

Enough with the philisophical bickering.  Z and J... you guys need to hug it out. 

And as for yum yum yellow... I'm convinced that it got that name because it has historically been the most prevalent color in sit-on-top kayaks, hence the highest probability of being hit.  That is changing now with the variety on the market.   

As for the marks on the boat... I have no doubt in my mind that this was an exploratory bite, similar to the majority of surf board bites and most other kayak hits.  If this thing was really bent on making a kill shot, it would have completely mangled the front of that boat. 

I'll be very interested to see if anyone can estimate the size of the shark by the marks on the yak.  Looks like some very nicely spaced scratch marks to go on.

EK

Had probably something to do the black fins under his Yak.  My guess.  It does not pattern like the double oars of a reg. yak.  the steady pulse means something swimming in the Ocean.  Trying to get away from him or her.  Sound like a fish....you are a fish.  Even if you are not paddling.  That is the last movement the shark feels.

Ken kickfish

Erik,
 A kill shot to the head of anything out there.  Asked Randy...forgot his last name.  The Abalone diver a few years ago.

But, I hate to say it....Nseal chime it if you want...but the bears, cougars and sharks have no fear of us.  We used to shoot them when they got close.  Now, you can't because they will put you in jail.  They used to fear humans.  It was called hunting.  Now, is a word that can not be spoken.  Like I said they are "kings of the food chain" so why should they yield?  Believe me this is the first of many.

Ken kickfish

That's some hippy-dippy sh1t Z. Would you let a Grizzly into your neighborhood park?

I think you've had one too many granola bars,  .

the open ocean is one thing, 200 yards from the populated coast is another.

just think we need an alternate viewpoint on this particular point. look, humans own the
earth, for better or worse. we choose to let the GWS live, it's not like we couldn't basically
hunt them to extinction if we wanted.

They are cool, but they are a real life sea monster. no bones about it.

point needs to be made.

J

J, What the hell?
Oh and the," lurker " Dan has his right to privacy/time which I find pretty humbling and very admirable. Not defending you Dan but sometimes this type of event needs privacy, reflection and honest appraisal.

Holy S%&T.....Glad you're okey man.

Why are the colors yellow and red the choice of sharks? I don't recall any sea lions being that color. I would think that wheat brown would be more tempting to Mr. GWS.