Might as well mention the WORST of mini-SHTF's...a shark attack.
I live fairly near the beach, and spend a fair amount of time futzing around out there...and I've noticed that there are a goodly amount of Large sharks swimming around...more than I've noticed in years before...even though we lost our Carrier and we don't get as many Fleet ships coming in anymore.
(We would have more Disappearances/Presumed Drowned in the area, but I'd notice a huge increase in 12'+ Tiger Sharks...which led me to believe they weren't drowned...just taken in one gulp and nobody saw anything)
And I start thinking about the last recorded shark attack on my beach...and I wonder how many folks even consider the possibility of it happening and what to do Just In Case Of...
The last two days I'm also watching Shark Week on Discovery Channel and noticing what some folks do to survive...what works, and what didn't.
What are your thoughts on What to Do?? I know what I do, but I'm curious what others do.
__________________ Marlin & Calico Specialist
I'm not just Trigger Happy, I'm Trigger Ecstatic!!
I have a deadly fear of sharks (they are the only creature that makes me shut down from fear) so I
A. wouldn't be in the ocean
B. Would have a heart attack.
I have had close encounters with big cats, grizzlies, and wolves in the wild. While I was respectfully scared/nervous, they didn't "freak" me out. A shark, even in a movie or TV show, scares the h*ll out of me!
p.s. fixin' to watch Air Jaws 2 LOL
__________________ I'm here for a good time, to h*ll with the red wine, pour me some moonshine!
Good question - how do you survive a shark attack? I just assumed survivors were lucky.
I don't think that remaining calm after a shark has bitten off your leg is an option, so I guess getting out of the water by any means possible is the way to survive.
__________________ I reserve the right to be wrong.
Part of my living is made by commercial spear fishing. over the years I have had lots of encounters with sharks under water. almost been eaten for sure once by a 14 ft hammerhead. long story but luckly I was with another diver and he drove it off my legs, I never saw the shark coming. most times they are just after my fish but I was able to fight them off. in the last 3-4 years I have been noticing the numbers of big and agressive sharks increasing. this pretty much coinsides with the strict federal limits put on all fishermen and especially the reduction of the long line fleet. when I am spearing, if I get hasseled by a shark over 8-9 ft. I usually just pick up anchor and move a couple of miles down the reef. if its a real good area with lots of fish, I get my power head and kill the varmit. this summer alone I have been run out of the water twice. one incident it was by 2 bull sharks 9-12 ft. they ran me off one patch of coral heads and then showed up again after I moved about a mile away. shark attack is something I am aware of almost every day. as with other large predators in their home enviorment, there are precautions you have to take when in their territory.
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peace through superior firepower
I defend myself from sharks by avoiding the open salt water altogether - me and boats don't get along too well. As for surviving a shark attack, short of being inside a steel cage or wearing chainmail, your best option is to avoid their turf in the first place!
Even packing one of those Russian underwater guns wouldn't make me feel like I was on a level playing field.
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I take my coffee how I take my women: bitter and overbearing.
I'm not worried in the slightest about sharks, worked on the water for years but have no fear of them...........
There has never been a recorded case of a Scotsman being attacked by sharks (as far as I'm aware) so I reckon I'm safe!
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How can I 'Soar with the Eagles' when I'm working with such 'Turkeys'!
I live baitfish for King Mackerel off the local pier. 98% of the strikes on my rigs are sharks, some very large. I'm within 200 yds of the beach. I know whats in the water, I don't go in. the ocean is not your swimming pool. when you enter the water you are no longer at the top of the food chain and are playing the odds.
I surfed a lot growing up and had many encounters with "the man in grey pajamas".
From a small 4 footer to a very large ten footer plus. I do not think there is much in the way of prevention short of staying out of the water. Just make sure you get your head in first so you go quickly, lol !!
__________________ I keep tellin ya Doc, I'm in pretty good shape considerin the shape I'm in !!
I once flew low over Panama City Beach here in Florida, and saw the tourists out in the water having fun. About fifty yards further out were the sharks - a LOT of sharks. Mostly the little sand sharks - but the beach shops there all had plenty of local-caught shark jaws for sale. Some were very large.....
I once flew low over Panama City Beach here in Florida, and saw the tourists out in the water having fun. About fifty yards further out were the sharks - a LOT of sharks. Mostly the little sand sharks - but the beach shops there all had plenty of local-caught shark jaws for sale. Some were very large.....
I do not swim offshore.
I remember taking my first Air Ops flight from NATTC Millington, TN to NAS Pensacola, FL inna P-3 Orion...bumpy ride, to say the least...well, they flew over P'cola Beach for a few minutes while waiting to land...I looked out the window and my jaw dropped.
I could see HUNDREDS of sharks swimming in the area I previously thought was "safe"...between the Sand Bar & the beach itself....HUGE sumbiscuiteaters too...and people swimming & surfing right over them. And I'm thinking..."I used to DO that!!!! But not anymore!!!"
Note: I fell asleep in one of the funny backwards facing seats right behind the engines...the crew was AMAZED that anyone could zonk out in the noisiest seat in the plane...had me sign the bulkhead
"_____ slept here!" above the seat...so if anyone ever looks up & sees a Airman's siggy right above their chair inna P-3...now you know why
(I had SO forgotten about that...LOL...freekin' 1987...Thanks for the Memory!!!)
__________________ Marlin & Calico Specialist
I'm not just Trigger Happy, I'm Trigger Ecstatic!!
Big Shrek, the following tale is the Gosh honest truth - I saw it with my own sober eyes.
Panama City Beach, summer in the late 70's - me and a couple USAF buddies are walking the strip, taking in the sights. We come to the piers, where the touristas are swimming and frolicking between the piers. Some guys are fishing off the ends of the piers. SHARK fishing. One young man thinks he needs to get his bait further out. So this young man, wearing only shorts, climbs onto an inner tube, plops his shark hook with a big chunk of meat onit onto his lap, and paddles out beyond the other lines. Chucks the hook into the water, then paddles back to the pier! Resumes his fishing......
That shop on the same pier had some huge shark jaws on display - I don't know if they were caught locally.......
