Fisherman reports encounter with 20-foot great white off Point Defiance [Tacoma Washington]

The [Tacoma] News Tribune ^ | December 15th, 2002 | Bob Mottram

[HairOfTheDog]

We have had the El Nino phenomenon stuff happening the last few years. I don't fully understand it, but it might explain it.

I know it is very uncommon for them to be in Puget Sound. It isn't something that even enters our minds on the waters here. Heh... Until now of course!

[Senator Pardek]

Isn't it a tad bit cold for Great Whites in that part of Pacific?

That's what the mayor of Amity wants you to think...

[HairOfTheDog]

Course you know how fishermen exaggerate the size....

[Vigilantcitizen]

"That's true about bulls...they are a common shallow water shark here in FL, do they often occur that far north? "

"I hadn't heard that speculation, but am interested in it."

I saw a History channel documentary not too long ago about the bull shark that killed several people in a small tidal creek in New Jersey.

[Sam Cree]

I credit El Nino for giving us such a mild hurricane season this year, for which I am thankful. Supposedly El Nino's cause wet winters and falls in the Southeast, which could be good for the drought.

Didn't know it caused great whites, though.

[Sam Cree]

It's true that bulls are mean, and get big, but I haven't heard stories of them just disappearing with humans, as great whites are known to do?

[Scott from the Left Coast]

That's unbelievable! A killer whale OK. But a great white????? (Now wouldn't that be a weird encounter -- a killer whale runs into a great white. Bye Bye great white! Wrong neck of the woods.

[HairOfTheDog]

Stranger than fiction eh? I think you are right... Killer whales have got to be faster and smarter than even a large shark.

[PoorMuttly]

Post 23 pretty much says it. They don't mind shallow, muddy water...unlike what I'd expect of a Great White...and just one look at a Bull may tell you something about how "sensitive" and intelligent they are ! They are lumpy and stupid looking...and mean.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Bob Salatino

I've met that guy!!! He was a little into amateur radio (Ham), which was my dad's hobby. When I was a boy, we'd go to the aquarium and he'd come out to say hi to my dad and point out all of the fishes in the NW exhibit (giant round pool that you could look in from above or from the sides through glass). This is really gettin' strange now!

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Not to mention, one helluva lot bigger!!

[holyscroller]

"Salatino worked for 20 years at the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium. John Rupp, the aquatic animal curator there, described him as "a knowledgeable fisherman."

This guy was no ordinary schmuck. After 20 years of working at a zoo and aquarium, he should know what he saw. I would believe him. We didn't used to have sea lions here either, but now the place is crawling with them. Watch for more sightings, Doggie Hair.

[HairOfTheDog]

Watch for more sightings

I will keep an eye out for sure!

Scott and I were just talking about it on another thread, Point Defiance is a popular scuba area.... The Narrows is just around the corner, where the octopus watchers come from around the world to dive. And our beach house is just around the corner again, 5-6 miles away on Hale's Pass, on the mainland facing Fox Island. If I see one, I will let you know!

[HairOfTheDog]

So, you know the guy.... Is he on the up and up? He was on Channel 7 news... they may replay the interview!

[RIGHT IN SEATTLE]

Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah,
I've only seen grey whales, and only from Browns Point!

:)A

[Scott from the Left Coast]

He sure knew the NW fishes like the back of his hand -- subspecies, male from female, little ones and big ones. He'd point out something different in the exhibit that was new or rare. I'd say he'd be about as much an expert on marine life as I've ever met (haven't met that many). I was a boy then (about 30 years ago) so I couldn't tell much, but my dad always considered him a great expert on such things.

[Sam Cree]

"Bull Sharks were responsible for all of the encounters in FL last year. They are supposedly pretty dumb, even for a shark, and have poor eyesight. Apparently they take bites of things they bump into, which accounts for all of those people being bitten on their legs."

I believe all the above is true...I've spent lots of time on the water, over many years, and am on a first name basis with bulls, up to c.450 lbs.

It's just that, in spite of the bites for which they are credited (rightfully, IMO), I've never heard of one swallowing 1/2 or all of a human, as great whites are known to do, and as the shark in NJ did. Who knows, though. The rest of that MO fits the bull, it is true. I've heard the stories from Lake Nicaragua, but am not sure if anything like that has been reported elsewhere.

[PoorMuttly]

Up into the 1920's at least, striped bass on Long Island, even in the Sound, were often over 100 lbs. Sharks too ???