Well I guess it's finally happened.... Great White shark attack on the Cape

[likwid]

Originally Posted by Mike P

Eyewitness accounts are starting to make their way around the news sites.

According to witnesses, a large black fin was seen between the victim and the person he was body surfing with (his son, reportedly). Seconds later, the guy was pulled under.

Medical reports indicate a large bite area across both legs. Looks like whatever it was grabbed him across both legs simultaneously, and pulled him under for a short time, before releasing him. There was no secondary/follow-up attack. The shark (presumably a shark if these reports are accurate) swam away.

If this is the scenario, it's consistent with a GW taste test bite. What's more likely, given the amount of seals there and the known presence of whites along the backside--a GW or some exotic species rare in the ocean waters off the lower Cape?

Heard everything from 12" fin to 24" fin.
Comedy gold.

[Slipknot]

sounds like a taste and release from a young great white shark to me too.

I feel for the guy but thankfully he survived.

NO NEED TO CLOSE BEACHES

just thin the herd of seals is all it takes

Hopefully no one will be killed by a shark before something is done about the exploding seal population.

[johnny ducketts]

I'll find him for 3, I'll catch him for 10
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[MAKAI]

I was being facetious slip.
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[JamesJet]

Originally Posted by fishbones

Suspected Shark Attack in Cape Cod Leaves Man Hospitalized | NewsFeed | TIME.com

Interesting the article mentions that a seal was seen swimming nearby prior to the attack.

I was out at Nauset Light on Sat, and we thought about going to Ballston. I don't think there is a spot on the backside without a seal nearby. I really wish it was a seal bite for fishermans sake. Would cause a much more productive public reaction.

[Slipknot]

Originally Posted by MAKAI

I was being facetious slip.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

I know that

but the reactionary types aren't

[BluesHarp]

Proposed new sign for the beach access.

"Caution multiple seal sightings - BIG sharks may be present!"


Capt. Quint Quotes: "I'll catch this bird for you, but it ain't gonna be easy. Bad fish. Not like going down the pond chasin' bluegills and tommycods. This shark, swallow you whole. Little shakin', little tenderizin', an' down you go."

"Here's to swimmin' with bow-legged women."

[ThrowingTimber]

But it's not gonna be pleasant. I value my neck a lot more than three thousand bucks, chief. I'll find him for three, but I'll catch him, and kill him, for ten. But you've gotta make up your minds. If you want to stay alive, then ante up. If you want to play it cheap, be on welfare the whole winter. I don't want no volunteers, I don't want no mates, there's just too many captains on this island. $10,000 for me by myself. For that you get the head, the tail, the whole damn thing.

[ThrowingTimber]

Fellows, let's be reasonable, huh? This is not the time or the place to perform some kind of a half-assed autopsy on a fish... And I'm not going to stand here and see that thing cut open and see that little Kintner boy spill out all over the dock.

[Raven]

it was a white seal wearing a fake fin

[BluesHarp]

Just in time for the 25th anniversary of "Shark Week" on Discovery.

Shark Week 2012 | Starts Sunday, Aug 12, 2012 at 9PM e/p on Discovery - YouTube

[Circlehook]

I have yet to not see a seal on a backside beach this year. Day or night. There will be more attacks. You cannot blame the sharks for the mistake as 99.9% of the time they attack a shadow in the water it's a seal. On a sunny Saturday in July, I bet the seals in the water on the outer beaches outnumber swimmers 500-1.
On a separate note, why do weekend warrior boogie boarders who only go into the water (at low tide) for a 10 minute stint of looking like an ass need to wear a $300 full wetsuit with flippers?
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[MAKAI]

Farewell and adieu you fine Spanish ladies…………
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[bart]

It was a White Shark....

[johnny ducketts]

Maybe it was a scuba diving bear
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[LINESIDES]

I personally expected this to happen the first time they showed up on our shore line up here.
I never thought for one minute the seals were cute!!
Look to California, all the way to the state of Washington.
They have taken over.
Unfortunately the seals aren’t going away and neither are the whites!
You have not heard the last from them then the goody two shoes will be crying out, WHY ISNT SOMEONE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS!!!
Its actuall to late at this point.

[Jackbass]

Originally Posted by johnny ducketts

Maybe it was a scuba diving bear
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Just when you thought it was safe the cape cod bear is back with scuba gear
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[bloocrab]

Originally Posted by LINESIDES

...
Unfortunately the seals aren’t going away and neither are the whites!
......
Its actuall to late at this point.

I'm sure there are many more GWs swimming around than being reported. Only a matter of time before it happens again. Even a "taste test" can end up being fatal. You won't catch me swimming in those waters....

There's no quick fix to this either. They won't be doing any seal removal and they definitely won't be shooting any sharks any time soon. Gonna take many more "accidents" before ANYTHING happens. Beach closings to swimmers will be the best they can do.

Bombas beware when yakking out there!!!

[Jackbass]

Originally Posted by bloocrab

I'm sure there are many more GWs swimming around than being reported. Only a matter of time before it happens again. Even a "taste test" can end up being fatal. You won't catch me swimming in those waters....

There's no quick fix to this either. They won't be doing any seal removal and they definitely won't be shooting any sharks any time soon. Gonna take many more "accidents" before ANYTHING happens. Beach closings to swimmers will be the best they can do.

Bombas beware when yakking out there!!!

You are 100% correct a couple of years ago when the first public sighting happened. Creating the new shark hysteria I asked a friend of mine who works at woods hole. Why are they just showing up now? He plainly said to me they have always been around in smaller numbers just no one ever saw them. The numbers are growing now and with the buffet of easily accessible food around they will continue to grow.
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[ProfessorM]

My thought is why would you go swimming that far out in shark and seal infested waters.
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[Raven]

[iamskippy]

Originally Posted by ProfessorM

My thought is why would you go swimming that far out in shark and seal infested waters.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Right, you just can not fix stupid

[Mike P]

Our political system is so screwed up that Congress can't pass legislation that everyone wants. So, can you imagine how long it would take to repeal the Marine Mammal Protection Act? Animal rights and conservation groups would fight it tooth and nail, and even if the law were repealed, they'd launch court challenges.

Those aren't the greatest swimming beaches to start with. The water is bone-numbing cold most of the time. Surfers get hit by GWs regularly in California. They're aware of the risks and accept them.

I really dread the hysteria that this is going to cause. When a human enters the ocean, he or she becomes part of the food chain--we are no longer the apex predator.

[Liv2Fish]

There was a poll on fox 25 news last night about how many are in favor of repealing the protection acts so that the seal population can be reduced. I fell asleep before the results came in. Anyone catch it?

[Jim in CT]

Originally Posted by ThrowingTimber

Fellows, let's be reasonable, huh? This is not the time or the place to perform some kind of a half-assed autopsy on a fish... And I'm not going to stand here and see that thing cut open and see that little Kintner boy spill out all over the dock.

Probably the best line in that movie...

"You'd love to prove that, wouldn't you? Get your name into the National Geographic?"

[Pete_G]

When you look at some of those photos on the Cape Cod Shark Hunters website it really is amazing to me nothing has happened until now.

They are right on of the beach at times, practically in the break of the waves. You'd have to think there's been plenty of close passes and sharks lurking barely out of range of people in the shallows, waiting for an opportunity, just like they'd do with a seal.

[LINESIDES]

Even during my Ute you never heard of them.
All the time I spent swimming as a kid in ALL the local beaches around Boston, Revere, NH, Quincy, Nantasket, all the way down to the cape scares the crap out of me today as an elder.
I will admit that I have had a fishing rod in my hand since I was five years old and I love being near and on the water however I stopped swimming in Saltwater when the movie came out about Jaws!!
My life preserver coats in my boat all have razor knives in them.
My favorite scene is the girl on the water ski.
The minute I saw it I said to my wife, it looks just like a big plug to me!!!!

[Canalman]

Cape Cod Shark Attack; Shark Attack Cape Cod | BostInno

They're saying it was a GW now

[JohnR]

Unless a LOT of people get eaten - it is too late to do anything about the seals. Even then people are more likely to say close the beaches humans-shouldn't-be-there-anyway

Originally Posted by Raven

it was a white seal wearing a fake fin

[Rockport24]

Yeah I agree that it is very unlikely anything will happen with the seal protection.
Hey, in South Africa and Australia, these sharks are everywhere and people just deal with it, gonna have to be what we do as well.
Although, if I lived on the cape, I would be getting myself and boat and lose the kayak!