Shark Attack Off Chatham!!!

[Blitzseeker]

I was thinking the same thing about that line about how suddenly seals are stealing fish off the end of people's lines. "This just in....."

I surf fish about 1/4 as much as I'd like to and that has probably happened to me 25 times in the last three seasons.

[MAC]

Originally Posted by Slipknot

Mac, that pic is not the seal in the news, I grabbed that off the internet, I don't think harbor seals are that big, but maybe they are.

Ok, could be a harbor seal though. They can grow up to 250 or 300#s I believe and 6' long.

[Flaptail]

The tuna guys off Chatham have seen them ( GW's) numerous times this year off Crab, Great Hill and the Regal Sword. Someone had one come up in his spread just inside the BC Buoy last month.

[Flaptail]

Seals vs. Great Whites, kinda like Godzilla versus Barney

[RIROCKHOUND]

Originally Posted by Flaptail

Seals vs. Great Whites, kinda like Godzilla versus Barney

I love you, you eat me, we're happy snack foodee!

FYI B545 we released a 9'5ft Blueshark that went an easy 325, probably 350.. where you get your blueshark numbers is beyond me...

[Jenn]

Oh how I have waited for this day///////its like christmas!!!!!

[b5545]

Originally Posted by Rip Runner

B5545, Where did you hear that Blue sharks eat seals? I'm sure their has been few one offs, but seals are definately not on the blue shark diet. Also you won't really find a blue shark in waters under 50 degrees worldwide, you are more likely to find them in waters of 58-72 degrees. A blue shark that is 9 feet from the nose to the fork in the tail should weigh anywhere from 300-350 pounds.

If it wasn't a Great White in Chatham which it probably was, then it was a Mako. Like someone mentioned earlier, a big Mako will go after seals as well.

Blue shark diets include squid and many types of fish such as haddock, cod, pollock and mackerel. They are known to prey upon larger fish such as swordfish & tuna and may sometimes eat seals.

[b5545]

Originally Posted by Rip Runner

B5545, Where did you hear that Blue sharks eat seals? I'm sure their has been few one offs, but seals are definately not on the blue shark diet. Also you won't really find a blue shark in waters under 50 degrees worldwide, you are more likely to find them in waters of 58-72 degrees. A blue shark that is 9 feet from the nose to the fork in the tail should weigh anywhere from 300-350 pounds.

If it wasn't a Great White in Chatham which it probably was, then it was a Mako. Like someone mentioned earlier, a big Mako will go after seals as well.

Rip runner send me your email and I will sendthe pic of a blue shark I got last year in may. The one i got was around 10 ft and weighed about 200 lbs. If you don't want to give out your email then I will tell you the site the pic is on.

[b5545]

Originally Posted by likwid

Great Whites live primarily in cold water chasing seals.

Blue sharks don't eat seals.

South Africa average water temps: 9°C (49°F) to 20°C (68°F)

Monterey Bay average water temps are the same.

Those are two primary GW habitats. And full of seals.

Water temp at Nauset this past week: 71.

Blue sharks indeed eat seals.

A Blue shark feed mainly on squid and bony fish. Pelagic fish typically make up the base of the Blue shark's diet, such as swordfish, tuna, mackerel, cod, herring and sea raven. Seals, flatfish, pelagic red crabs and cetacean carrion are also a part of its normal diet. The Blue sharks will frequently attack fish that is already caught by long-lines or similar fishing gear, which unfortunately means that Blue sharks are often ensnared in the equipment themselves. The Blue shark is also known to sometimes eat sea birds and garbage.

[MakoMike]

Originally Posted by Karl F

[SIZE="6"]The sharks don’t travel in groups, and once a great white feeds, it won’t eat again for weeks, Capone said.

I guess they haven't been watching shark week. On last night show there must have been 20 Great Whites chasing seals off an Island in South Africa. Does that guy really think that a bite or two out a seal is going to keep a great white going for two weeks?

[Karl F]

They Got what they needed Mike.. One expert to say it, and another to swear to it...

I think we all know, they only are fooling themselves.

[MAC]

Originally Posted by b5545

Blue sharks indeed eat seals.

A Blue shark feed mainly on squid and bony fish. Pelagic fish typically make up the base of the Blue shark's diet, such as swordfish, tuna, mackerel, cod, herring and sea raven. Seals, flatfish, pelagic red crabs and cetacean carrion are also a part of its normal diet. The Blue sharks will frequently attack fish that is already caught by long-lines or similar fishing gear, which unfortunately means that Blue sharks are often ensnared in the equipment themselves. The Blue shark is also known to sometimes eat sea birds and garbage.

I read the same page you did. It says mamalian carrion That means DEAD. We are talking LIVE seals here. Blue sharks, live seals, uhhhm.....NO

[Mike P]

Originally Posted by Karl F

I think we all know, they only are fooling themselves.

Naw, they don't believe it any more than we do--at least I know that Skomal doesn't. They're just being good soldiers.

And this Capone chick is probably some State Rep's cousin--and WTF is the Executive Office of Energy and Envirronmental Affairs??

[MakoMike]

Originally Posted by Karl F

They Got what they needed Mike.. One expert to say it, and another to swear to it...

I think we all know, they only are fooling themselves.

I can't help but think of the mayor in Jaws!

[ridler72]

" I'm pleased and happy to repeat the news that we have, in fact, caught and killed a large predator that supposedly injured some bathers. But, as you see, it's a beautiful day, the beaches are open and people are having a wonderful time. Amity, as you know, means "friendship". "

[Rip Runner]

Originally Posted by Sluggoslinger

I beg to differ. I've seen a blue shark attack our gill net in late december north of nauset within 5 miles of the beach. That water was colder than 50...

How long have you been running a Gill Net and how many blue sharks have you seen after October? I'm sure in all your years not many. I'm not saying you didn't see a blue shark in late December, your probably did, but it was certainly a one off situation and most likely a very large fish to be able to sustain itself in water that cold. Blue sharks are not generally found in waters below 50 degrees. Are you sure you didn't see a Porbeagle which are common in Cape Cod Bay in Late December and like colder water?

[Sluggoslinger]

Originally Posted by Rip Runner

How long have you been running a Gill Net and how many blue sharks have you seen after October? I'm sure in all your years not many. I'm not saying you didn't see a blue shark in late December, your probably did, but it was certainly a one off situation and most likely a very large fish to be able to sustain itself in water that cold. Blue sharks are not generally found in waters below 50 degrees. Are you sure you didn't see a Porbeagle which are common in Cape Cod Bay in Late December and like colder water?

It was a blue no question about it but you are correct that it was a very large one. Actually the biggest I ever saw. I was standing next to the gunnel looking down at it biting a chunk out of a cod in the net. Pretty cool to watch. I'm not sure what the habits of these sharks are but I think this one was a resident of the area because we saw him every once in a while. We'd try to hit him in the head with the gaff to save our fish.

[pistolpete68]

who said their were no tigers in the area ??

[Flaptail]

Originally Posted by Karl F

It's great, it's white, it's a shark!

By Amanda Lehmert
Staff Writer
August 08, 2007
CHATHAM – If you weren’t one of the Outer Cape beach-goers who caught a glimpse of a shark munching on a seal last weekend, you may have missed your chance to see the beast feast.

The shark seen off North Beach in Chatham Saturday night was likely a great white, state shark expert Greg Skomal concluded after examining the seal carcass and talking to witnesses, said Lisa Capone, spokeswoman for the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

It’s rare, but not unheard of, to see great whites in the area, Capone said.

“Maybe two times a year they see carcasses that have this signature look of a great white shark attack,” she said.

That is good news for nervous swimmers – and bad news for shark enthusiasts. The sharks don’t travel in groups, and once a great white feeds, it won’t eat again for weeks, Capone said.

Show’s over. Go back to your beach blanket.






So, they admit it is a white.. what happened to the tiget theory they spewed yesterday?

And all's well folks, back on the beach.

Like my son said tho.. why they (Town Hall) worried?.. beach was closed for 39 days for two birds and they didn't care then.. why should they care if people stay away for sharks?

'good news for nervous swimmers" thats too funny, these bozos think it's the only one out there?

[Mako927]

Another article from Boston.com with "experts" claiming it was a Great White... similar to the CCT article Karl posted.

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/cit...p1=MEWell_Pos3

[BasicPatrick]

A few notes on the incident:

I know one of the three persons to witness the complete incidednt and make the first report to Nauset Beach Management. I actually hooked him up with Greg Skomal who was investigating the incident for MA DMF.

I am told that most of the persons interviewed in the paper and on TV were not even there to see the actual attacks (the shark hit the seal twice over about 10 minutes). There were three Campers at the location when it happenned and though three people did see the shark on two occasions it was only after the seal carcass washed up that a crowd gathered. Obviously, people tend to fill in their minds eye when they miss something that others saw. Also, people tend to want to be "involved" to the point they exaggerate, esp when Media gets involved.

Greg Skomal who is the "expert" quoted in the recent articles is truly an "expert", actually a world class expert on Sharks. It is he who determined it was likely a GW by intervews with those that saw the incident. The initial Tiger reports began by those that saw the incident trying to make and id based on their quick view of the tail.

Also, when GW wharks feed they eat until they can not eat anymore, then they digest and eat again. This is probably what the article was talking about with regard to the two week thing.

Thpough I have no love for the town, I do not think they have been dumbing this one down.

No doubt there are lots of Sharks in the area, but this is nothing new. They have been and will be there for many years. this year I have heard reports from fishermen that I know of seeing a large possible GW on Stellwagen in June, a couple reports of a big one (15 plus feet) out at the Sword, and the KeeperReaper report of the Shark off Nauset. Do not forget, the Tuna have been around for a while now and GW eat them too.






Though there were only three Campers at the location and three men that actually saw the complete incident, after the commotion began alll kinds of people showed up.

[Mike P]

WMVY regurgitated the party line on the 9 AM newscast, as best as I can recap:

"State officials confirmed that it was a GW. However, THE shark is probably long gone and poses no threat to bathers. GWs travel 30-50 miles a day (editorial comment--yeah, when they're not at an all-you-can-eat seal buffet) and there's no reason to think that IT is still in the area. GWs go for weeks between meals (did everyone lose sight of the fact that a) this was a harbor seal and b) enough of the carcass was left for Skomal to make a definitive GW ID from the bite?) and even if THE shark is still there, it probably won't be hungry".

I don't attribute really sinister motives to this, however--not necessarily, that is. Giving them the benefit of the doubt, it may be that they're trying to prevent a boatload of shark posses from going out shark-huntin' for a protected species.

And the truth of the matter is, as MVY closed with a quote from someone from the NE Aquarium, that GWs don't normally feed on swimmers. Most attacks on humans are the result of them mistaking us for a seal.