eek shark

[OceanCityGirl]

One of my sons just came in from surfing. He said two sharks swam by him very close. Not too big he doesn't think. Like 6ft. Yikes. He doesn't spook easily and knows there are always sharks around. He's seen them before and says he's felt them brush up against him before. But these were two clear fins swimming right next to him. And yes he can tell the difference between sharks and dolphins.

[PHBeerman]

Why was he surfing instead of working?

[OceanCityGirl]

Why was he surfing instead of working?

hahaha. Day off. Don't blow off work in the summer when the surf's not good and the water's full of kook's. Now if a hurricane moved up the coast, well that might be another story.
The other son who is a beach lifeguard says the guards try to ignore the sharks so as to not cause a panic. One of their friends who is a surfer has a dad who flies charter flghts. He tells them how when he flies over the beach he sees surfers and swimmers surrounded by sharks all the time.
Good friend who is now a succesful real estate devloper reminisced about all the jobs he quit in the summer so he wouldn't have to go in on a good wave day.

[OceanCityGirl]

He just told me that if the waves had been better he would have stayed in with the sharks. I"m not really believing that line.

[Lastplaneout]

He just told me that if the waves had been better he would have stayed in with the sharks. I"m not really believing that line.

Believe it...I would so not let a shark bother me if it was an awesome session. I've been brushed, bumped, etc. But if it's going off you just have to surf...it takes control

[bravedave]

I think most surfers (and fishermen) know that the sharks are out there pretty much all the time. (The Fla Panhandle surfer who tried to save that poor girl, RIP, said as much in his interview.)

Just goes to show how many chances sharks have had to take a bite... and didn't.

If anything, I'd say the "bites-per-thousand" (of humans in the surf) has gone down, not up. We're just putting many more bodies in the water than we used to, due to coastal development and such.

[OceanCityGirl]

"bites-per-thousand" (of humans in the surf)

[Sam]

I think most surfers (and fishermen) know that the sharks are out there pretty much all the time. (The Fla Panhandle surfer who tried to save that poor girl, RIP, said as much in his interview.)

Just goes to show how many chances sharks have had to take a bite... and didn't.

If anything, I'd say the "bites-per-thousand" (of humans in the surf) has gone down, not up. We're just putting many more bodies in the water than we used to, due to coastal development and such.

BD,
I live on the coast and I can guarantee the sharks are there....I have seen sharks caught on the beach by fishermen while people were swimming nearby.... ( go figure) We had been out seining the night before.I had one of the biggest blue crabs latch onto my foot and I thought I had lost a half my foot or a couple of toes.... good thing I was wearing an old pair of "Puma Paws".The leather was cut some, but all I had was a red mark across my foot.

What really severely p*** me off, was the guys were supposedly members of a shark fishing club,.... all they did was take the jaws, the dorsal fin and the tail and told me you couldn't eat shark....at least they did ( or were told to dispose of the carcasses)... at least one time or more I loaded a couple of 48 quart coolers up with fresh shark.... when they said they were going to throw it away and let me have it for free....Ever tried to buy shark meat in a store?? I have no idea where those allleged "shark club members" were from or got their information from.... but I and several others enjoyed some of the catch.....sometimes they would let us have the catch.... sometimes they wouldn't, especially after the first couple of times. I am still p*** about the ones that went to waste.
I have dove with sharks a few times and one must keep a situational awareness at all times. I was more concerned with the barracudas. They would get up close and personal while the sharks generally hung back but would occasionally brush you...... Do you know what it means when a shark brushes you?

I agree with you, and I like the question that has been raised by some,
"Why aren't there more shark attacks, instead of only so few?"

BTW I take it, that you watched "Shark Week"?

There are well over 350 known species of sharks and 40 or less of those species are known to attack humans and of those that are known to attack humans... it can be further broken down....Sharks get a bad rap and Peter Benchly and Hollywood helped contribute to it.

"BE KIND TO ANIMALS, KISS A SHARK!"

[bravedave]

I agree with you, and I like the question that has been raised by some,
"Why aren't there more shark attacks, instead of only so few?"

BTW I take it, that you watched "Shark Week"?

There are well over 350 known species of sharks and 40 or less of those species are known to attack humans and of those that are known to attack humans... it can be further broken down....Sharks get a bad rap and Peter Benchly and Hollywood helped contribute to it.

"BE KIND TO ANIMALS, KISS A SHARK!"

Sam, (re: shark meat) I'm glad to see some good come out of a bad situation. If you're gonna kill it, may as well eat it. (And while I wouldn't want to be a meal for any animal, I'd rather die in the jaws of a shark than get hit by a bus. )

Yeah, I would never miss Shark Week.

You're right, most people don't realize how few sharks bites actually occur compared to how many chances are presented. A lot of surfers and fishermen are aware of their surroundings and behave appropriately. Sadly some don't, and we all have to be responsible for our own safety.



OCGirl:
It sounds like you are raising two bright boys.
Give 'em my best.

[OceanCityGirl]

OCGirl:
It sounds like you are raising two bright boys.
Give 'em my best.

Yep they're great kids. Grew up in and on the water. I worry more about the stupid things guys do on land to impress girls then I do when they're in the ocean with the sharks. The son who is a beach guard says that has taught him alot of common sense safety. He even thinks it makes him a better driver.
Raise your keets with a love and respect for God's creatures and their home and you will be blessed.

[Blonde Stranger]

One of my sons just came in from surfing. He said two sharks swam by him very close. Not too big he doesn't think. Like 6ft. Yikes. He doesn't spook easily and knows there are always sharks around. He's seen them before and says he's felt them brush up against him before. But these were two clear fins swimming right next to him. And yes he can tell the difference between sharks and dolphins.

I've been in the water this year far more than previous years, because it's been so beautiful (I go to Avalon just down the road, BTW).

I think my swimming for this summer is over. Crap.

[OceanCityGirl]

I think my swimming for this summer is over.

no need for that. As the others have said the sharks are always there. And the risk is low. If you are really worried avoid the water during dusk and dawn, don't swim in the same area where people are fishing, don't go in the water with any open cuts.
Surfers get hit more often because a surfer laying on a board looks like a turtle to sharks, which means food.

[Blonde Stranger]

I think my swimming for this summer is over.

no need for that. As the others have said the sharks are always there. And the risk is low. If you are really worried avoid the water during dusk and dawn, don't swim in the same area where people are fishing, don't go in the water with any open cuts.
Surfers get hit more often because a surfer laying on a board looks like a turtle to sharks, which means food.

I know, but next weekend this thread will be foremost on my mind and I'll probably wimp out (although if the jellyfish finally arrive that will keep me out of the water for sure). Maybe I'll take my kayak out on the bay instead.

Did I mention my bathing suit has shiny objects on it?

[Sam]

I think my swimming for this summer is over.

no need for that. As the others have said the sharks are always there. And the risk is low. If you are really worried avoid the water during dusk and dawn, don't swim in the same area where people are fishing, don't go in the water with any open cuts.
Surfers get hit more often because a surfer laying on a board looks like a turtle to sharks, which means food.

I know, but next weekend this thread will be foremost on my mind and I'll probably wimp out (although if the jellyfish finally arrive that will keep me out of the water for sure). Maybe I'll take my kayak out on the bay instead.

Did I mention my bathing suit has shiny objects on it?

Can you say fishing lure? MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA


I don't know about everywhere else, but here, there are several rivers and sounds nearby. If one chooses to overfly the beaches...one will usually see large numbers of sharks.

[Blonde Stranger]

I think my swimming for this summer is over.

no need for that. As the others have said the sharks are always there. And the risk is low. If you are really worried avoid the water during dusk and dawn, don't swim in the same area where people are fishing, don't go in the water with any open cuts.
Surfers get hit more often because a surfer laying on a board looks like a turtle to sharks, which means food.

I know, but next weekend this thread will be foremost on my mind and I'll probably wimp out (although if the jellyfish finally arrive that will keep me out of the water for sure). Maybe I'll take my kayak out on the bay instead.

Did I mention my bathing suit has shiny objects on it?

Can you say fishing lure? MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA


I don't know about everywhere else, but here, there are several rivers and sounds nearby. If one chooses to overfly the beaches...one will usually see large numbers of sharks.

If I wasn't so damned afraid of flying I would take one of those shoreline helicopter tours just for the purpose of checking the water for shadows. It's really hard to see anything if you're in the surf in NJ - the water is almost always a very dark murky green and opening your eyes underwater is useless.

In NJ, I think almost the entire coast is fronted by barrier islands with numberous inlets and channels behind them. Most are shallow but some have been dredged and are pretty deep.

[nycparrothead]

14 posts in this thread, and I still haven't figured out what an Eek Shark is...

[shakerofsalt]

14 posts in this thread, and I still haven't figured out what an Eek Shark is...

You've never seen an Eek shark? They are quite noisy.

[nycparrothead]

14 posts in this thread, and I still haven't figured out what an Eek Shark is...

You've never seen an Eek shark? They are quite noisy.

LMAO!!! So, I assume they scream alot?

[shakerofsalt]

14 posts in this thread, and I still haven't figured out what an Eek Shark is...

You've never seen an Eek shark? They are quite noisy.

LMAO!!! So, I assume they scream alot?

Mating season is hell!

[buffettbride]

14 posts in this thread, and I still haven't figured out what an Eek Shark is...

You've never seen an Eek shark? They are quite noisy.

LMAO!!! So, I assume they scream alot?

Probably sound a lot like Steph when you're trying to mount her.