West Coast shark activity

[SJB]

Hammerhead sharks in attack spree
Two local incidents among several along California coast

Kayaker Mark McCracken uses a paddle to fend off a hammerhead shark
off the Gaviota Coast on Saturday.
COURTESY MARK McCRACKEN

September 23, 2015 12:14 AM

Hammerhead sharks attacked a kayaker Saturday about a half-mile off
Gaviota and a spear fisherman Tuesday at Santa Cruz Island, adding to
a recent upsurge in normally rare hammerhead attacks.

In Saturday's incident, Mark McCracken, 33, of Santa Maria, said he
was fishing for bonito when a fast and aggressive shark repeatedly
bumped and bit at his kayak.

Mr. McCracken said he struck the shark at least 20 times with his
paddle as he made his way to shore. The shark remained in about 3 feet
of water, swimming back and forth as if daring him to come back into
the water.

The entire incident took place over about a 15-minute period. Mr.
McCracken captured the adventure on video with a GoPro mounted on his
head.

No warning signs were posted following the incident because it
occurred offshore, but kayakers were warned by rangers and lifeguards.

On Tuesday, free diver Matt Lum was spear fishing off Yellowbanks
Anchorage at Santa Cruz Island.

He had a yellowtail tied to his waist and had just speared another
when a 10-foot smooth hammerhead slammed into his left hip.

The shark twisted its head to tear off a chunk of flesh, Mr. Lum said,
but got caught up in his wet suit instead.

Mr. Lum said he punched the shark's eyes and head but that didn't
deter it. He then shoved everything he could into its mouth, including
his swim fins, his spear shaft and, finally, one of the yellowtails.

Mr. Lum said he dropped his speargun, which was attached to a float,
and swam as fast as he could to his boat. He called his diving buddy
back to the boat, then warned two other divers nearby.

Returning to the float attached to his speargun, he began pulling in
the line, only to find the shark attached.

The shark had swallowed the yellowtail and apparently the spear shaft,
which was connected to the speargun by a stainless steel cable. Mr.
Lum said he held the shark's head while his friend severed the cable.
Once safely back ashore, a doctor who is a fellow spear fisherman,
stitched up Mr. Lum's wounds.

The incidents are similar to one Aug. 31 off La Jolla and on Sept. 8 off Malibu.

On Aug. 31 a smooth hammerhead approached two anglers in kayaks and
pursued them to within about 200 yards of shore, although no contact
was made by the shark. The next day, a smaller hammerhead was seen in
the same area. Lifeguards posted warning signs for the next three
days.

On Sept. 8, two other kayaking anglers were buzzed by two hammerheads
southeast of Point Dume on the Malibu coast. One was bitten in the
right foot and was airlifted to a hospital in Thousand Oaks.

Until this summer, attacks on people by hammerhead sharks have been
extremely rare. The only other attack in more than a century occurred
in 1959 off La Jolla when lifeguard Verne Fleet was bitten on the
thigh by a smooth hammerhead while spear fishing. He had a barracuda
tied to his waist. He made it to shore unaided, refused help, and
doctored himself back to health.

A warm water mass associated with El Niño is now bathing the Southern
California coast with subtropical water and much that is associated
with it — including hammerhead sharks. The recent incidents, as well
as the attack in 1959, all involved splashing and bleeding fish.

Even without an El Niño, great white sharks have been seen by kayakers
off Santa Barbara on at least seven occasions since 2012. On four of
these occasions, great whites made contact with the kayaks, in two
cases puncturing the kayaks in numerous places.

Standup paddleboarders, surfers, swimmers, divers, people in boats and
on piers and beaches, have reported numerous sightings and sometimes
encounters with great whites over the past several years. A woman in
an outrigger canoe had her boat bitten by a great white off Shoreline
Park last year.

[SJB]

Whew....all clear now.

Hammerhead Sharks Caught
updated: Sep 23, 2015, 9:37 AM

Santa Barbara fisherman Cliff Kent brought in two hammerhead sharks while pulling up his nets full of yellowtail fish Tuesday. He says the hammerheads are chasing the yellowtail and this unusual combination is linked to the warmer waters in the area. Each hammerhead weighed in excess of 100 pounds and were about seven feet long. They were sold to the Santa Barbara Fish Market. Many people at the harbor took pictures and were amazed at the close up view they were given as Kent drove the sharks off in his pickup truck.

[bgreen]

We've had a lot of shark activity also., both fatalities and non-fatalities.

Here are a couple of views on the topic:

http://www.swellnet.com/news/surfpoliti ... t-research

http://www.swellnet.com/news/surfpoliti ... new-theory

Bob

[mrmike]

hammer head shark are only after your fish when I spear fish I keep my fish on a 50ft float line I have had my line hit at some times did not see what did it could have been a seal or shark the point is do not hang your fish over your boat or on your body. people ask me what the most dangerous thing I see at the beach and I say the parking lot after dark