Posted on 07/14/2021 5:15:17 PM PDT by Capt. Tom
WELLFLEET--I had been trying to avoid this question for a long time. But I guess Shark Week is the perfect time to admit that you're "shark weak," so here we go. It started with this:
"Are you too scared of sharks to swim in the ocean?"
This cut deep. I have been wrestling with the shark thing for a few years now. For most of my Cape life, boogie boarding in Wellfleet with my family was the absolute top of Joy Mountain, and I think the happiest I have ever been was when all four of us were riding the same wave.
WELLFLEET--A sign at Newcomb Hollow Beach warns of high levels of shark activity on July 14, 2021.
But in the last few years, things have happened that make me think twice about running into the ocean with joyous abandon. Part of it might be my job, which has placed me on the scene of a couple of these very scary events.
Back in 2012, I was goofing off in Wellfleet, trying to figure out how to get over to mysterious Mill Hill Island, when the newsroom called and said "get your butts to Truro: we hear someone might have been bitten by a shark." We hightailed it to Ballston Beach, where emergency folks were carrying Chris Myers, of Denver, off the sand and into an ambulance.
Officials later confirmed that it was a great white shark attack. But I guess Myers was lucky: severed tendons in his left ankle and 47 stitches. He returned to Ballston a few weeks later and was kind enough to speak with me. "I was hoping to go swimming, but the doctors told me I had to stay out of the water with my cast," he said.
His chipper attitude about the bloody encounter was impressive. And the fact that he was swimming pretty far offshore when it happened made me feel like perhaps it was a one-off. So I went right back to boogie boarding without much worry. After all, I told myself at the time, the last fatal shark in Massachusetts was way back in 1936.
That all changed on September 15, 2018. It was a beautiful Saturday and we were all planning to go to Newcomb Hollow Beach--our beach--after getting a few chores done. I was trimming the hedges when the call came in from the newsroom. Trouble at Newcomb Hollow and it sounded bad.
It was beyond bad. Arthur Medici, 26, was killed in a great white shark attack. The ambulance was still at the scene when I got there and so were a lot of shocked eyewitnesses.
I spoke with Joe Booth of Mattapoisett, who saw what happened. "I saw our worst nightmare unfold here," he said. "Some gentleman got bit by a shark. And we never wanted this to happen, ever."
Booth said he was watching Medici boogie board and suddenly there was a giant eruption of water. He saw a tail and thrashing, saw Medici being carried out of the water and ran to the top of the dune to call 911.
I asked him how he was dealing with what he had seen. "Now everybody's going to be asking themselves, when they go to check the surf, is it worth losing a limb or potentially your life," said Booth, a longtime surfer.
Ever since that horrible day, I have had trouble with the ocean. Over the last two summers, I've gone boogie boarding a few times, but timidly. Where I used to float around, waiting for the perfect wave, I now tend to grab every wave. And I'm always looking around, sometimes spooked by the shadow of my own board.
I know other people don't feel the same way and I wish I could be more like them. My kids don't worry about sharks and they're probably right. So as I was putting this together, I decided to jump in the Curious Prius and head over to the ocean for a quick dip. There was a sign on top of the dune that said, "Welcome to Newcomb Hollow. Warning--High Levels of shark activity."
I jumped in anyway.
With Federal and State protection of white sharks, and their sought after prey, seals, there will be no letup in incidences involving people. -Tom
Shark Week is being called “Racist” because most of the coverage is about Great WHITE Sharks....
My experience is with a sand shark. perfectly harmless. He was chasing the small fishes next to the shoreline where we were. There were four of us six feet from shore. Waist deep. Full moon and the Gulf was as smooth as I have ever seen it. Like glass. He was feeding on small fishes near shore and was almost right on us when I pulled my wife away to shore. The women were slightly spooked. When the flash of cell camera flashed, the shark fled quickly away.
There was an article yesterday about sharks loading up their families into the family truckster and taking them to St Louis to see the Arch.
understanding that they’re capable of killing or maiming you is not being scared...
it’s common sense...
I will watch some of it, to see if my favorite shark, the shortfin mako, gets some coverage. -Tom
Watch Josh Gates and William Shatner in Expedition Unknown: Shark Trek on the Discovery Channel. It’s well worth your time. Plenty of belly laughs.
William Shakespeare has a cure for the problem. The Big Muddy means catfish to me.
I can’t sing but I’d be a great soprano.
The time was midnight. Full moon. It could easily have been a tiger shark. I’m no shark expert. Water clarity was exceptional and the water glass. It was a magical night.
Bring back the annual Cape Cod Shark Tournament
Josh Gates used to have an interesting show full of discovery, science, and adventure. Then, he went all drama all the time.
“I’m slipping IM SLIPPING!!” (20 minutes of commercials) “Oh, I caught myself”
“What was that NOISE. WHAT WAS THAT!!!” (20 minutes of commercials) “Oh, camera man stepped on a twig”
It became boring as hell and unwatchable.
I like boring.
Yes. I moved from the west coast of WA, literally, to the Great Lakes. Great swimming here!
This leftist wave of encouraging huge predators to thrive makes me ill.
I’ve seen a few Makos on screen, but they are just mentioned like, “And here’s a Mako.” and then move on to the Tigers, Bulls and Great Whites....................
Considering what I’ve been reading in the CCT about attempted abductions in the area of late, I’d be more worried about land sharks...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.