Great White vs. Kayak

[happy2fish]

There are constantly reports of divers, surfers and kayakers being attacked by Great White Sharks, however, most are fake. In this case, however, the photograph is accurate and the story is true. The 3.8-meter sea kayak was indeed approached by a great white. The photo was taken by the Africa Geographic on Sept. 2005.

Having tested the relationship between kayaks and great whites there had appeared to be no threat when the kayak was empty. There was, indeed, a great deal of tension felt by kayaker when the kayak was circled and approach by a great white. I can only imagine how relieved this person felt when the great white lost interest after occasionally lifting its head to check things out.

The idea was for the kayaker to be able to watch the sharks’ behavior in a natural environment (without trying to attract them with food). The African Coasts are known to be heavily inhabited by these sharks and the likelihood of this happening in our area could be sketchy at best. It is, however, always important to realize the danger involved when dealing with any shark and the open ocean.

Recently, there was an incident in California where a great white actually grabbed and hung onto the bow of a kayak tossing the kayaker into the ocean. He felt it was safer to climb back into his kayak which proved to be the case. The Great White obviously didn’t have an acquired taste for kayak and although he released the kayak he continued to stalk it until the furiously paddling kayaker reached safety. source

[Steve]

Yep, tis real. We had a discussion about this very pic and another on here last year. Both of 'em were in the extreme area.
Prolly hanging somewhere.....
I sure wouldn't have wanted to be the test bait, er, I mean, subject....

[Mr.Mom]

Man that's nutz.....posing as little more than a top water lure....

[Sam]

I was kayaking out a bait just before dark and saw a nice big dorsal fin gliding through the wave about 20 yards from me. Pretty close to nature at that point!

For those of you who are thinking, "just a porpoise", Nope... Straight through the wave and then not another glimpse.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Sam

Straight through the wave and then not another glimpse.

That's because you didn't look back as you streaked toward the shore!

As Sam says, for those that think otherwise...
There are indeed "things" out there that go bump in the night...
That's when the shore looks very far away.

But, I've only been bumped once or twice in 3 years.

[Coop]

Seen them surfing, but 99.9% of the time they are interested in something else, not us.