Shark Jumps Over Surfer

Orlando Sentinel ^ | June 25, 2011 | Akili C. Ramsess

[Jed Eckert]

This is just a few minutes away from where I live. Back in the 70s & early 80s the Halifax Sport Fishing Club used to have a Tarpon and Spinner Shark Tournament in September. My wife and I always entered and caught quite a few of these. Landing them is another story. They are great gamefish. After you hook them they make several 8 to 12 foot leaps out of the water spinning wildly, trying to wrap line around their bodies. They're fairly good tasting as well.

Not particularly dangereous to swimmers unless the water is very murky. Definitely not one of the "maneaters". The ones that concern me are the Bull Sharks, Tigers and Hammerheads. They're fairly common in that area. There's an area between the Bell Bouy and the beach that local surfers used to call Shark Shallows. If you saw what have I seen in those waters over the years you'd probably never set foot in that water.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

The comments under the article raise a good point. This really is a video of a surfer narrowly escaping a shark attack.

[Hot Tabasco]

Definitely not one of the "maneaters".

They don't concern me as much as the "mantasters"......

[Jack Hydrazine]

In America you jump the shark.
In Soviet Russia shark jumps you!!!

[Hot Tabasco]

This really is a video of a surfer narrowly escaping a shark attack.

After watching it more closely, you're right....

[Jed Eckert]

They don't concern me as much as the "mantasters"......

I hear ya. Spinners have taken nips at swimmers, always in murky waters. Bite not usually life threatening but scary anyway. I have jaws from both Bull Sharks and Spinners. Bull Shark teeth are very similar in shape to Great White. If the Bull takes a 'taste' somebody is going to lose a fair amount of flesh.

[samtheman]

If you saw what have I seen in those waters over the years you'd probably never set foot in that water.

I find this subject very disturbing. My 2-year-old loves to play in the waves on our NJ beaches and I wonder if it's bad that he's developing a life-long love for shark-infested recreation.

I know. I'm just being paranoid.

I know, there are many more realistic dangers in life, even in the ocean.

But I can't help shuddering at the thought of this.

[OB1kNOb]

[Atlas Sneezed]

If the shark jumps you, does that restore previously-lost excellence?

[Titan Magroyne]

BMFL

[fullchroma]

A favorite uncle lives in NSB and I've been visiting there since I was a wee one many years ago. Got my first real kiss on that beach!

My uncle has told me that the impressive distinction of Shark Attack Capital was earned because it has the highest number of shark encounters and that most of them are simple bumps or nibbles. Rarely deadly, bloody or very injurious.

I've never been bumped or nibbled by a shark there although I remember a little bumping and nibbling with that first kiss...

[samtheman]

simple bumps or nibbles

Oh, well... as long as it's only a nibble...

:)

[Jed Eckert]

Actually the probability of getting attacked by a shark are very, very slim. Me and my family are perfect examples. For over a decade my wife and I made our living in, on and under the coastal waters here in Florida. So did a good number of our friends and their families. My four kids grew up surfing and fishing these very waters. None of us has ever been bitten by a shark despite being in very close proximity countless times.

However, we have all been bitten and stung by various crabs, catfish, jellyfish, stingrays and even a torpedo (electric) ray. Meanwhile, in that time one of our friends was killed by lightning after his boat engine broke down , just yards from the boat dock. In a separate incident I was knocked flat on my rear by a lightning bolt that struck a few yards away from me at the dock.

Nothing wrong with being cautious, just stay out of the water if it's very murky and you see lots of bait fish activity. And especially watch those damn thunderstorms.

[Jed Eckert]

My uncle has told me that the impressive distinction of Shark Attack Capital was earned because it has the highest number of shark encounters and that most of them are simple bumps or nibbles. Rarely deadly, bloody or very injurious.

Your uncle is absolutely right. I seem to recall only one incident where a tourist was bitten in Daytona and ended up losing a leg. I honestly don't recall any fatalities off the top of my head. In fact I would wager we've had more fatalities in Volusia from gators. Just can't win: go to the beach and the sharks might get you. Go to the springs and the gators might get you. :(

[Hot Tabasco]

Actually the probability of getting attacked by a shark are very, very slim. Me and my family are perfect examples.

FWIW, there's never been a recorded incident of a shark attack, bump, or nibble or crab pinch or jellyfish or anemone sting in the great lakes.......A couple of summers when I was a little kid I did come down with swimmers itch tho.

[Right Wing Assault]

If the shark jumps you, does that restore previously-lost excellence?

Now THAT is a good question. It seems like there should be a method of reversal or redemption and I think you've found it!

[Jed Eckert]

FWIW, there's never been a recorded incident of a shark attack, bump, or nibble or crab pinch or jellyfish or anemone sting in the great lakes.......

That may be true..........for now.

Lake Michigan Shark Attack?

Freshwater Bull Sharks

Lake Nicaragua Bull Sharks

And then there's this: Champ the Lake Champlain Monster

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water... :)

[surfer]

LOL...

Haven’t cracked the seal yet...however I have plans for it this weekend...I am going to use it as a wet additive (sparingly) to my best BBQ dry rub and I will give it a whirl on ribs smoked to perfection :)

I like smoked BBQ to have a nice after burn...I am quite excited to try it.

Thanks for that and what a great time we had, shoulder was a tiny bit sore on Monday but it reminded me of having a moment to re-live some history!!!

Can’t wait until next month!

[Raven6]

I do a lot of surf fishing right where this video was shot. Usually, during the day, I catch Pompano - great fighters that usually feel like about five times more fish than they actually are. But I've also spent more than a few nights at high tide standing on the concrete of the Crawford Ave. beach access ramp (maybe a mile south of Ponce Inlet?) casting out there just to see what I could catch... A lot of ocean catfish and the occasional shark. The manager of the condos there keeps his freezer full of shark steaks and never has to walk more than 50 feet or so to get to the water to catch 'em.

I've seen these Spinners... I've also sat on the balcony with binoculars and watched the surfers paddle past bigger sharks much longer than their surfboard. I won't go wading out in the water unless it's nice and clear... And only then maybe up to my waste at the deepest (besides, it's too hard to manage the bait box and my fishing rig if I go deeper than that.) I've seen what is out there, and have seen some pretty good sized dorsal fins in the murky water. Uh-Uh... Not me.

[roaddog727]

Yes, I had a great time too.

Caution: wear rubber gloves when your putting the dry rub on the ribs - the haot sauce will wreck your day if you rub your eye (or other sensitive parts) afterwards. LOL

I’m also looking forward to next month’s outing.

GET SOME!