Great White Sharks and Yum Yum Yellow

I keep reading of the saltwater exploits of the community and shake my head ... absolutely no way am I going to tempt fate by sticking my big toe in salt water.

... but then I think, sissy! Get your big boy pants on and get a little brine on them ...

Then I turn on the telly to have a bit of news to aid the digestion, and find out about the explosion in the Great White population off of California. There's damn few things that turn a fellow's knees to water, but something with teeth bigger'n yours is bound to be one of them.

https://phys.org/news/2021-05-great-white-shark-northern-california.html Apparently the conditions are ideal to support a larger population ... and I interpret that to mean my lilly white rear end in a plastic boat being part of that recipe.

Nope. Even all them halibut you're catching won't make me do it.

I remember reading a book on sharks and how researchers called the color of life preservers (the traditional orange kapok military stuff) Yum Yum Yellow. Apparently big sharks prefer that color to Puce or Mango ..

stick to the shallow bays and away from the open ocean if you are afraid of the landlord but want to catch something more salty

I've had two encounters last year. One was not to far off the lighthouse in Santa Cruz and the other was in Capitola just outside of the kelp beds. They were both around 12'.

I will stick with Gorton's or Fillet O' Fish - the worst thing that can happen is Salmonella.

Any Yak driver encouraging me to venture into the salt is the same guy that knows he doesn't have to outswim a Great White ... he just has to be faster than my PA12 .

Nope. Even all them halibut you're catching won't make me do it.

[/quote]

Or you can deploy a Shark Shield like a lot of us do.

The cement ship by Aptos seems to have turned into a nursery for 8 to 10 footers with the occasional 12 to 15 ft GWS. 

Fortunately no kayakers have been hurt. Wish i could say the same for the surfers that we have lost over the years.   

I still venture out but not as far or as frequent in the past.  Been getting more comfortable in my aluminum boat as the hairs whiten . 

Still  need to catch a seabass in my kayak before they end up just seeing fresh water. 

Alex

1 in 3.75 million chance being injured or killed by a GWS
1 in 86,780 chance being injured or killed by a dog
1 in 84 chance being injured or killed in a MVA
1 in 6 chance of dying from heart disease



Unless your the InnKeeper he’s a magnet

Posting for S&G purposes only , I can neither confirm or deny accuracy.

It’s 100% true. The inn keeper is a GWS magnet.

Seriously though we live in the sharkiest place in North America and fish in plastic or fiberglass kayaks in their home. As a group we have multiple encounters every year and the worst thing that’s happened is holes in boats, a torn bootie, and some brown stained underoos.

***knocks on wood***

Idk support orca repopulation.... whats seal population now?

Definitely respect the ocean !!!

1 in 3.75 million chance being injured or killed by a GWS
1 in 86,780 chance being injured or killed by a dog
1 in 84 chance being injured or killed in a MVA
1 in 6 chance of dying from heart disease



Unless your the InnKeeper he’s a magnet

Posting for S&G purposes only , I can neither confirm or deny accuracy.

bad data because 99% of the population isn't ever out on the ocean. cant die to a great white in the middle of Iowa. lol

Sharks arent intelligent enough to understand that there is something edible on top of the plastic boat. no great white is going to come back looking for you after it already bit your kayak, which it probably did thinking it was a seal. Since it identified that your kayak was not a seal it probably wont want much to do with it anymore. much more afraid of a hull fracture on the water than a GWS.

1 in 3.75 million chance being injured or killed by a GWS
1 in 86,780 chance being injured or killed by a dog
1 in 84 chance being injured or killed in a MVA
1 in 6 chance of dying from heart disease



Unless your the InnKeeper he’s a magnet

Posting for S&G purposes only , I can neither confirm or deny accuracy.

bad data because 99% of the population isn't ever out on the ocean. cant die to a great white in the middle of Iowa. lol

Sharks arent intelligent enough to understand that there is something edible on top of the plastic boat. no great white is going to come back looking for you after it already bit your kayak, which it probably did thinking it was a seal. Since it identified that your kayak was not a seal it probably wont want much to do with it anymore. much more afraid of a hull fracture on the water than a GWS.

Do you use a scupper cart?

I'll take my chances with Heart Disease ...

At least there is some buxom young nurse wiping the sweat off'n your brow while you ease into the Sweet Bye n' Bye.

... instead of soiling yourself as you watch the bow of your craft and its NCKA sticker become floss for something with incisors  the size of Rhode Island.

I am soooo much more worried about dying during my commute.

I am soooo much more worried about dying during my commute.

So true... I do have a yum yum yellow Hobie Revo that was kissed by a GW shark last year that will probably never see saltwater again. Still have not been back in saltwater since, but looking forward to it as soon as the doll eyes disappear from my dreams 

Get a Shark Shield and enjoy the ocean.  Stop worrying about GWS.