Cape Mendo 12/17/22

Wow! Great pic!

Thanks for sharing the story TRW..

Wow! Glad it wasn’t more aggressive! I take it you guys didn’t have a shark shield? Awesome timing on the pic!!

Timing is everything!

I got a text from Chris as you guys were heading over the hill, and I thought about joining in - too busy...  When he messaged back later with your photo I was like WTF?!!!  So insane that you were taking a photo right as it hit, and I'm glad it did no damage.

Shit's getting real out on the Pacific.   

How cute, the ' Road Warrior " playing with the little fishy.

Wow! What a memory for sure. Glad everything came out ok. I think I would have tried to poke him/her with my fishing pole for sure,but then you never know until an occasion arises.

Alex

Wow!! Absolute madness. That is a heck of a picture and glad everyone got back safely with a story of a lifetime.

Whoa! I’d need a new dry suit.  Glad you guys are ok

Same here.  I would have wetted my wet suit!

Glad it worked out OK and the shark lost interest when it realized it wasn't a normal food item. Very subtle title by the way. No one will accuse you of sensationalism.

Hmm, I wonder if that is a resident white which is the same animal that gave Loleta Eric a drive by a year or two ago?

Hmm, I wonder if that is a resident white which is the same animal that gave Loleta Eric a drive by a year or two ago?

I don't think it was the same animal, it looked smaller than the one Eric documented and had no obvious scars or markings.

I just wanted to add that no I didn't have a shark shield but I also didn't have any fish, bait, or other scent on board and my kayak has been clean and dry for well over a month or two. The shark showed no interest in the ling I was fighting which was ~20 feet below us the whole time this incident was happening. Not sure if the encounter was territorial, predatory, or investigative, but I'm pretty certain I was the object of interest either way. I attached a zoomed/cropped version of Max's epic photo. Hard to stop looking at it.

Chris - What are your thoughts on exactly what we're seeing in the photo?  I'm trying to picture the parts of the shark and what we see in the pic.

Hmm, I wonder if that is a resident white which is the same animal that gave Loleta Eric a drive by a year or two ago?

I don't think it was the same animal, it looked smaller than the one Eric documented and had no obvious scars or markings.

I just wanted to add that no I didn't have a shark shield but I also didn't have any fish, bait, or other scent on board and my kayak has been clean and dry for well over a month or two. The shark showed no interest in the ling I was fighting which was ~20 feet below us the whole time this incident was happening. Not sure if the encounter was territorial, predatory, or investigative, but I'm pretty certain I was the object of interest either way. I attached a zoomed/cropped version of Max's epic photo. Hard to stop looking at it.

Nice blow-up of Max's photo!  Did you poke the shark with your rod out of instinct or is that something that is tried and proven for getting them to leave?

Chris - What are your thoughts on exactly what we're seeing in the photo?  I'm trying to picture the parts of the shark and what we see in the pic.

I think the shark hit my kayak near the white sticker at a 60 degree angle and then glanced off towards the bow. What we see in the photo is the shark in mid turn, body bent and partially breached with the tip of their nose slightly above the water elevation in a cresting wake ahead of the bow with completely exposed dorsal fin trailing behind. The tail is not visible and completely submerged

Chris - What are your thoughts on exactly what we're seeing in the photo?  I'm trying to picture the parts of the shark and what we see in the pic.

I think the shark hit my kayak near the white sticker at a 60 degree angle and then glanced off towards the bow. What we see in the photo is the shark in mid turn, body bent and partially breached with the tip of their nose slightly above the water elevation in a cresting wake ahead of the bow with completely exposed dorsal fin trailing behind. The tail is not visible and completely submerged

Beautiful and terrifying description.  Thanks!