So how do you feel about sharks?

About shark repellant: Did you read the latest surfer mag. Whatever new device they tried out on the whites didnt work very well, one shark tried to eat it. So there findings were inconclusive.
I think everyone thinks about it once in a while, but as mentioned above, i like surfing with a few friends. Theres nothing scarier than being out on a cold winter's day and being the only surfer in the water. On another note, most of the sharks around here are harmless, the one i would fear is the bullshark. Anyway, happy surfing!!

 

It is all part of our sport. No matter what you wear you are bound to run into a shark from time to time. All you can do is be smart about it. Sounds like they hit the right electrical charge in that shark repellent, for the shark at least

 

Sharks

In my previous life in the Coast Guard, we flew (patrolled) the beaches from MB to Daytona. You would be amazed at the number of small (5ft or less) sharks that were in the surf, around people, etc. It took a lot of the fear out of me, since not many beach goers got bit.

Now well offshore St Simons, there is a hammerhead breeding ground. That scared me!

 

Shark Camo is a new Swellinfo reporter from pismo beach - selling the shark repellent decals for boards.

 

I was watching something on the discovery channel and it actually proved that your chances of being bitten largely increase if your wearing a brighter color, even if it is solid, and black was the best choice in wetsuits and such.

 

One thing to think about is if you have a cut, and you are bleeding, you may want to get out of the water.

 

I Will Eat A Shark

 

I'm not scared of sharks, but they are in the back of my mind. One day I caught my last wave and was in the area between the sandbar and the shore where I jumped off my board and I felt something brush past the side of my leg and it felt fast and bigger than any fish I knew. It also didn't feel like scales. It was about dusk anyways, so I jumped back on my board like I got eletricuted and paddled (smoothly though) back to shore.

Honestly, though I'm more scared of jellyfish cuz they can't get out of your way and when they sting you, you panic (they hurt like crap too). Recently, I've been like a jellyfish magnet and almost everyday I went surfing the past week or two I got stung

 

i'm more worried about getting in a car wreck on the drive to the beach, getting struck by lightning, walking to the water, and getting my ass stung by jellyfish once i get in the water...

here in Florida, we see sharks just about every time we paddle out.... it's no big thing... i've only got out 5 times that i can remember (3 were bull sharks, one was a tiger, and the other was a mako.)

i do ALOT of fishing, and have seen alot of sharks... normally they're more afraid of you than we are of them.

 

yeah im more scared of jellyfish cause you see them and then they're gone thats what scares me most. with sharks i know they're out there but i just know as long as you dont bother them they wont bother you.

 

Ive lived and surfed here all my life-seen many sharks out there, big and little. I actually surf at the exact same location that, when the sun goes down, we shark fish at. The smaller sharks that most see out there are called "sharp-nosed sandsharks. We only have to worry about the tiger and bulls (unless youve heard of the recent sightings of GW's that have been rumored around lately. I must admit that i'm more "cautious, aware, paranoid" when im out there late late afternoon, by myself. Just cant let your mind think too much or you might as well go ahead and paddle in, cause every splash, ripple, etc. is going to make you wonder "the hell was that"?

 

I've been surfing for years and have yet to see a shark in the lineup. I guess I'm never really looking either. As surfers, its one of those things that is alway lodged in the back of our minds. Just try not to think about it and keep having fun. I will say that I have been in situations where people swore that they had seen sharks and hot tailed it into shore. These situations always tend to "uncrowd" the lineups and make for some good sessions.

HEY!!!! Theres an idea. The next time the lineup is super crowded, point towards the bum that is snaking all the waves and yell, "DUDE A SHARK JUST SWAM 3 FEET FROM YOU." Maybe then he and all his boys will make a run for the shore, leaving the waves all to your self.

On second thought, maybe not. We all know what happened to the boy that cried wolf. As they say, "What goes around comes around."

 

Chances are they aren't going to bother you. I've been out in the fall when the baitfish are running and you could see them hitting the schools. cleared the lineup quick. Watch areas where creeks meet the ocean. I was surfing by myself except for one kayaker close to dusk. He paddled over and swore he just saw a shark almost as long as the kayak. Session ended....and i paddled in REAL easy like. To sum up, stay away from baitfish, avoid areas where fishermen are using any type of bloody bait, watch surfing creekmouths, dusk and dawn is a good rule, and don't flail around. You should be fine.........

 

I just got back to school and the first time we went surfing we saw a couple sharks and a ton of fish, but it didnt really bother us we just went about our business like usual. The spot is a pier called springmaid and it known for having a large amount of sharks around.

 

two buddies of mine caught a 11' bull shark in north inlet yesterday-said it was a BIG boy! they are out there!