Will shark death impact Cape tourism this year?

[Jim in CT]

we love the Cape, love everything about it - the water, the fishing, the bike trail, the Cape Cod league, the food, the mini golf, the lobstering. We cancelled our camping reservations for this summer, because my 3 boys love being in the water all day, riding waves on their boogey boards, which is exactly what last summer's victim was doing, in the middle of the day in broad daylight, when he was killed. We're going to Narragansett instead, I just can't imagine letting my kids in that water.

Will tourism be down at all? Lots of people can enjoy the Cape without going in the water, and maybe some people will be more inclined to go now if they want to try and see a shark?

[tlapinski]

I just booked a trip to the Cape for a week in August. I figure the sharks are there and have been for a while now with very few problems so there is no sense in running the opposite direction.

If you think Narragansett is great white shark free then do yourself a favor and don't speak to anyone working on the water in the area. There was a large one inside the Harbor of Refuge last summer, several have been caught in the fish traps, and likely many more that don't make the news.

[OLD GOAT]

I live there but the Gov. could give a chit about my grandchildren swimming.
Since ther's no list of tree huggers the folks in office are scared chitless about looseing votes from tree huggers.
If we get rid of the seals ,the sharks will go.
Might even have the fish return.

[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by tlapinski

I just booked a trip to the Cape for a week in August. I figure the sharks are there and have been for a while now with very few problems so there is no sense in running the opposite direction.

If you think Narragansett is great white shark free then do yourself a favor and don't speak to anyone working on the water in the area. There was a large one inside the Harbor of Refuge last summer, several have been caught in the fish traps, and likely many more that don't make the news.

"I just booked a trip to the Cape for a week in August."

Great time to be there.

" figure the sharks are there and have been for a while now with very few problems so there is no sense in running the opposite direction.'"

I hope you're right. I saw Greg Skokal (spelling?) on TV, the marine biologist shark expert from Woods Hole, who is always on TV, and he said the one thing that's changing ta the Cape, is that tagged sharks are spending more time very close to the beach, more than before, And the bites started the first year we went, 5-6 years ago at Ballston Beach in Truro.

"If you think Narragansett is great white shark free "

No place is shark free. But they're not all equal, either. Have fun in August.

[Sea Dangles]

I would not recommend letting children swim out there. Probably now one of the most dangerous places to swim in the world.
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[Nebe]

You realize your kids have more of a chance drowning by just drowning than a shark attack right??
Grow some balls and enjoy life without fear.
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[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by Sea Dangles

I would not recommend letting children swim out there. Probably now one of the most dangerous places to swim in the world.
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My wife and I were sitting on the coach last August, watching TV, and when we heard the marine biologist say that sharks at the cape were spending noticeably more time in shallow water close to the beach, as soon as he uttered that sentence, I walked to the phone and cancelled my reservations for this year. Hate to do it, but I'm at the point where I think it's insane to let children swim there.

When we were there last summer, there was a marine biologist in the water with me and my kids in Truro, I asked if he was scared, and he said he wouldn't go in the water at dawn or dusk, but broad daylight should be fine.

Anyway, the people who run the campground we go to (used to go to), say there's no decrease in reservations. I was just wondering if tourism will be impacted.

[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by Nebe

You realize your kids have more of a chance drowning by just drowning than a shark attack right??
Grow some balls and enjoy life without fear.
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"You realize your kids have more of a chance drowning by just drowning than a shark attack right?? "

Yes I realize that. Do you realize that it's possible, even recommended, that we attempt to prevent children from more than one type of hazard?

"enjoy life without fear"

Do you have kids? What adults choose to do themselves, and what is reasonable to allow your children to do, are different things. Very different things.

I volunteer one evening a week at Mount Southington, a local ski mountain near my home. An 8 year-old kid died there last week, was skiing with his dad, went into the half pipe without his helmet, got inverted in the air and came down on his head. When I go the mountain, if I realize I've left my helmet at home, I will ski anyway. But if we get to the mountain and one of my kids doesn't have his helmet, we go home and get it.

[ProfessorM]

God I hope so
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[DZ]

How long were the beaches closed to swimming after last years attack?

Maybe a safer bet for children would be the shallow tide pool beaches on the bay side.

I know the chances are slim for a shark attack but I don't even play the lottery so I don't chance it anymore. Especially out on the outer Cape where I use to always wade the seaward side of the finger bars at low water.

[Rappin Mikey]

My family and I have cancelled our mid August outer Cape vacation because of the sharks. We had one hit a seal right in front of my vehicle on my daughters 6th birthday while I was out in the kayak. I still will be doing my end of June first week of July trip out there, but will be hitting the Plumb Island area in August from now on.

[l.i.fish.in.vt]

if anything more people will head to the outer cape in hopes of seeing a GW.me i do all my grocery shopping late at night,i know my chances of getting run over in the parking lot go way down late night when masses are home sleeping.from the amount of people i saw in the water the days after both attacks i.d have to say not many people changed their swim habits because of the attacks.

[l.i.fish.in.vt]

Geez Mikey everyyear it gets lonelyer out there.not that i mind,but i do miss all those mornings that we fished together,either off the kayak or walking out to the Hump,and chasing the blues at dawn

[piemma]

Originally Posted by tlapinski

I just booked a trip to the Cape for a week in August. I figure the sharks are there and have been for a while now with very few problems so there is no sense in running the opposite direction.

If you think Narragansett is great white shark free then do yourself a favor and don't speak to anyone working on the water in the area. There was a large one inside the Harbor of Refuge last summer, several have been caught in the fish traps, and likely many more that don't make the news.

Toby, Dave Hammock of Murats was fishing Deep Hole one night. This was back when you could keep 16" Bass. He had several on a stringer that was hooked to his wader belt. A "log" kept bumping his leg and finally he turn on his light and there was a shark feeding on the stripers on the stringer. This was probably in the 70s. Never bit him but he was wearing the old Greylight waders so the shark couldn't smell him.

[clambo]

Sharks want food! Seals = food! Stay away from seals!

[Guppy]

Hmmmmm... less traffic this year?

[Sea Dangles]

I feel like my children have already had more world experiences than I will ever have. They certainly don’t live in a bubble and are exposed to quite a bit. I really would want them to use a helmet on a motorcycle though. I also think seatbelts are a good idea. We swim at the Vineyard and Westport. You have to have a screw loose to wish your child luck on the backside beaches at this point.
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[niko]

I hate agreeing with dangles
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[zimmy]

Think it was 2009, we had a family trip to Chatham. Took the water taxi to South Beach. Had a 4 year old and 1 year old at the time. Seals moved in next to the beach and my in-laws kept swimming, floating around with the seals. I said no way I am going in there and the kids stay out of the water. The next week was when the first reports we ever heard of great whites started. I have not had my kids surfing or boarding on the outer beaches since the sharks became the norm. But, it is the seals... If the seals aren't there, I wouldn't worry. Nebe is right though, as usual . I let them swim, I let them surf, I let them snowboard, and ride in a car, which are all way more likely to kill them than a great white on nauset. However, floating in a wetsuit on a board amongst the seals in the morning or evening and you are rolling the dice.
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[The Dad Fisherman]

Originally Posted by Nebe

You realize your kids have more of a chance drowning by just drowning than a shark attack right??
Grow some balls and enjoy life without fear.
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Tell that to Mrs. Kintner
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[pbadad]

Originally Posted by tlapinski

I just booked a trip to the Cape for a week in August. I figure the sharks are there and have been for a while now with very few problems so there is no sense in running the opposite direction.

If you think Narragansett is great white shark free then do yourself a favor and don't speak to anyone working on the water in the area. There was a large one inside the Harbor of Refuge last summer, several have been caught in the fish traps, and likely many more that don't make the news.

Ill be there at Nauset last week.
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[Guppy]

Originally Posted by niko

I hate agreeing with dangles
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LMAO

[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by The Dad Fisherman

Tell that to Mrs. Kintner
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Or to Pippet. Poor, poor Pippett.

[Rappin Mikey]

Originally Posted by l.i.fish.in.vt

Geez Mikey everyyear it gets lonelyer out there.not that i mind,but i do miss all those mornings that we fished together,either off the kayak or walking out to the Hump,and chasing the blues at dawn

Those were the days. You me and JP pounded a lot of sand back then. See you in June!

[SAUERKRAUT]

Originally Posted by ProfessorM

God I hope so
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x2

[bart]

Originally Posted by tlapinski

.
If you think Narragansett is great white shark free then do yourself a favor and don't speak to anyone working on the water in the area. There was a large one inside the Harbor of Refuge last summer, several have been caught in the fish traps, and likely many more that don't make the news.

Not surprising about the HOR as there were more grey seals there last year then any other season COMBINED that I can remember. It’s definiteky happening down there. I watched it play out on the Cape as we all did and now it’s playing out in RI. More grey seals each year, more rumblings about sharks year. YeH they’ve always been there, but that’s what people used to say on the Cape before the seal population exploded. The white sharks aren’t just relegated to one area either. I know of many that have been spotted in South County and not just juvies. Someone’s brother on here saw one about 17 ft long close to the beach off Charlestown last year. It’s definitely happening...
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[ivanputski]

I think the number of Great whites that visit the shoreline of Narragansett
would shock many people. My kids and I swim there all summer though with no worries... would I go swimming at the cape with the same worry free approach? nope.

[MAKAI]

At times I albie and bass fish around the tip of Monomoy. You see fresh cut seals on the beach. Definitely would give me the creeps to be over the side out there.
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[Raider Ronnie]

If you go to the Chatham Fish pier there are boats that do Seal Tours.
Business is good !!!
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[Rob Rockcrawler]

I always spend a few days out there in August with my girlfriend and sometimes her kid. I’m not sure what her feelings are this year. I will still swim but will stay closer to shore than the last few years if that even helps.
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