Tragic: Kayak Fisherman Killed -- Shark Attack

[Darren.]

Very sad and tragic story here.

 

Kayak fisherman killed in Maui shark attack identified

 

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/24114775/shark-attack-reported-at-little-beach-on-maui-details-at-hawaiinewsnowcom

 

 

[MarkH024]

DLNR and County lifeguards have closed waters off Makena State Recreation Area, following a fatal shark bite before 10:20 a.m. this morning in which a man was bit while fishing from a kayak half a mile off a point near Little Beach.

A companion, also on a kayak, said the man was fishing with artificial lures to attract baitfish when his dangling foot was bit by a shark.

His fishing partner was about 500 yards away when the incident occurred, then paddled over, tied a tourniquet and asked a nearby charter tour boat for assistance. The boat brought the injured man to Kihei boat ramp from where he was transported to the hospital."

Shark warning signs are being posted to advise the public to remain out of the water from Ahihi Bay to Makena Landing. The beaches are open but the public is advised to stay out of the water.

DLNR staff and County lifeguards will continue to monitor the nearshore waters today and in the morning will reassess the area. If no sharks are seen, the area will reopen at noon tomorrow, following state shark incident protocol.

According to the Division of Aquatic Resources, this is the 13th reported shark incident statewide this year, and the 8th on Maui. Over the last 20 years, Hawaii has averaged about four unprovoked shark incidents per year, but numbers per individual year are highly variable. There were no reported incidents in1998, and just one in 2008. In 2012, the 10 incidents reported were at the time unprecedented.

"We are not sure why these bites are occurring more frequently than normal, especially around Maui. That's why we are conducting a two-year study of shark behavior around Maui that may give us better insights," said William J. Aila, Jr., DLNR Chairperson. "It is our hope and expectation that numbers of incidents will return to a more normal range in the near future."

Aila continued, "We offer our condolences to the family of the victim. Our thoughts and prayers are with them."

 

Very sad for his loss. It is tragic as is every sudden death.

 

That said.....don't swim or paddle in waters that you can be made into dinner especially in a craft that is easily overpowered. Period.  There are no laws in nature and it does what it wants. I don't mean any disrespect to the man but it was only a matter of time if that is a regular habit of the angler. You couldn't pay me enough to sit in a kayak in shark waters, sorry. Call me what you want, but I enjoy life and more importantly my family and loved ones. 

[Darren.]

Very sad for his loss. It is tragic as is every sudden death.

 

That said.....don't swim or paddle in waters that you can be made into dinner especially in a craft that is easily overpowered. Period.  There are no laws in nature and it does what it wants. I don't mean any disrespect to the man but it was only a matter of time if that is a regular habit of the angler. You couldn't pay me enough to sit in a kayak in shark waters, sorry. Call me what you want, but I enjoy life and more importantly my family and loved ones. 

 

Yeah, pretty much agree with you, Mark. I was going to add, but deleted to let the story speak for itself, that I never dangle my feet overboard and I fish fresh water 99% of the time. Only time I get out to wade is in the clear shallows. Not that I'm afraid of anything in the water.... 

[slonezp]

I agree with Mark. If I'm not at the top of the food chain, I have no business being there.

[MarkH024]

The unprovoked part I highlighted made me chuckle. NO **** genius. Can anyone say they go out to provoke a shark or sharks!? Maybe divers with chain mail suits but come on. You'll lose every time.  Even a 3 foot shark can bleed you out in minutes. 

[aceman387]

Tragic stuff. Prayers for his family.

[slonezp]

The unprovoked part I highlighted made me chuckle. NO **** genius. Can anyone say they go out to provoke a shark or sharks!? Maybe divers with chain mail suits but come on. You'll lose every time.  Even a 3 foot shark can bleed you out in minutes. 

I think they use that wording because of the tourist industry.  Make people not think they are a tasty morsel. In the Cape of South Africa, the beaches have underwater fences to keep the sharks out. The fences need to be inspected and repaired regularly from sharks trying to get in and eat the beachgoers.. If I lived there, I'd own a swimming pool

[flyfisher]

Wow that sucks.  I don't see a concern with paddling where there are sharks (not that i have done it) but i would think you would want to keep dangling body parts out of the water for these reasons. 

[Bankbeater]

There is no way I would go out in the ocean in a yak.  Too many possible ways to get injured or worse.

[KyakR]

I've always loved freshwater best, even from an early age. MarkH024 is right on as far as I'm concerned......nature will do what it wants. Part of the reason I love fishing is because being in nature awes me and keeps me humble. And somehow it reminds me of things about me that are beyond ancient and beyond thinking......that just are, things that make hunting and fishing and gathering around a campfire so satisfying. But the ocean is a place that's beyond me. I see other kayakers go out off the coast in Harpswell Maine and it gives me the bejeebers. Water 55%? Wind unpredictable? Nope. Water can be cold and wind dangerous on freshwater but somehow it's different. There are huge living things out there. That kayaker probably never imagined any bad thing happening. The holidays will never be the same for his family.

[Sam]

Don't wear yellow.

Don't wear any jewelry.

Don't make a lot of noise in the water.

Don't look like a seal.

Otherwise, go out and have some fun.

[retiredbosn]

Sharks easily handle fresh water, especially the bull shark. Documented catches as far inland as Kansas City! Was watching a show (not on Discovery) that a lake in Louisiana has a resident population of bull sharks, Pontchetrain meybe?? Anyway, any river that dumps directly in the ocean has sharks, and pretty far inland too.

[CayMar]

A guy was telling me that in panama city shark fisherman will pay kayakers $20 per trip to carry their bait out to deeper water for them. It sounded like a good idea to me, I was seriously considering going and checking it out when the weather got warmer but I think this has changed my mind.

[Oregon Native]

Went to Maui one time and did a bit of snorkling. Next day heard someone got bit by shark in same area!!! Fished in Alaska...saw lots of bears!!! I agree with slonezp....being down the food chain isn't a comphy place. I'm done taking chances. We do that enough with those around us!!

Tight Lines

[BennyB]

I lived in Maui. One of my favorite waves for surfing was where the last guy to die from shark attack on a surfboard occurred.  Makes you wonder whats under you out there.  However, we all do what we love in life and your chances of being attacked by a shark, let alone die are so very, very, very rare.  Go live your life without fear, for we all die someday, when it's our time.  My thoughts are with this persons family

[AK-Jax86]

Very sad story

[ClackerBuzz]

Don't wear yellow.

Don't wear any jewelry.

Don't make a lot of noise in the water.

Don't look like a seal.

Otherwise, go out and have some fun.

and Don't have your toy dog sitting on ur lap.

 

I'd have no problem fishing salt water from a kayak or even surfing.

but no way i'd scuba dive. (unless maybe i had very good/ experienced friends to teach me the ropes..or fins).

[DRH2O]

I about soiled myself the first time an unseen beaver cruised up on me at dusk and fired a warning shot by slapping his tail on the water next to my kayak. I can't even imagine kayaking in the ocean and having a big bit of live shark bait on the end of my line. Kudos to those guys for doing what they love but making it back home is always high on my list of things to do.

 

~DR

[Darren.]

I about soiled myself the first time an unseen beaver cruised up on me at dusk and fired a warning shot by slapping his tail on the water next to my kayak. I can't even imagine kayaking in the ocean and having a big bit of live shark bait on the end of my line. Kudos to those guys for doing what they love but making it back home is always high on my list of things to do.

 

~DR

 

Tragedy aside, I had a rather similar experience with an irritated beaver slapping the water warning me to turn around. My heart must've skipped three beats.

 

But I also had a river otter surface within 10 feet of my yak. I had no clue what it was at first because I wasn't expecting it, and I was unaware we had otters in our reservoir. 'Bout scared the you know what outta me. And I've since encountered other otters in the family there. Still startles when unexpected.

[Hattrick7]

I just read about this today as well as the other incidents. I remember surfing solo in Maui not to far from Kihei. This was back in 92 but the waves were so good I had to go. Then I night surfed Ala Moana bowls with two buddies about a week later. Got the heaviest barrel of my life during that session but I was freaked out as hell.

There seems to be more frequency with the attacks which leads me to think that there's something wrong with the food supply. Maybe the Fukushima radiation is killing off fish but the sharks seem to be more desperate for food and are looking to attack anything that resembles food.

This one lady nearly got her arm bit off in Maui not too long ago. Scary stuff especially if you surf or any water activities. Did you guys see the video of that hawaiin kayaker reeling in a tuna when a huge shark attacked it? The guy evidently kept on fishing and caught a couple more! Now that's hardcore fishing!

[slonezp]

I just read about this today as well as the other incidents. I remember surfing solo in Maui not to far from Kihei. This was back in 92 but the waves were so good I had to go. Then I night surfed Ala Moana bowls with two buddies about a week later. Got the heaviest barrel of my life during that session but I was freaked out as hell.

There seems to be more frequency with the attacks which leads me to think that there's something wrong with the food supply. Maybe the Fukushima radiation is killing off fish but the sharks seem to be more desperate for food and are looking to attack anything that resembles food.

This one lady nearly got her arm bit off in Maui not too long ago. Scary stuff especially if you surf or any water activities. Did you guys see the video of that hawaiin kayaker reeling in a tuna when a huge shark attacked it? The guy evidently kept on fishing and caught a couple more! Now that's hardcore fishing!

I saw a recent article about fish kills in the Pacific, they are blaming on Fukushima. I'll see if I can find it.

[SirSnookalot]

Florida is very high on the list of areas where shark attacks occur, kayakers venture out into the ocean in droves here.  What alarms me more than sharks is boats.  Kayakers will be out on 2'-3' waves, a boat running with it's bow high can't see them or the small flag, IMO they should have a strobe on a higher mast.

Quite often when a bleeder, like a bonita is caught a group of 6 or more bull sharks can appear, it's unnerving even in a small boat, a kayak even more so,  but doesn't seem to stop too many from going out.

I'd be as fearful in Florida in freshwater, gators and mocs is a good reason not be dangling your feet there either.

[RAMBLER]

I learned, a long time ago, in Wisconsin, don't dangle body parts in the water. 

I man landed an 18" northern pike that grabbed his fingers.  When it grabbed his fingers, he jerked back (a normal reaction) and flipped the pike into the boat.  Tore up his fingers pretty bad.

Now that I'm in Florida I definitely don't dangle my hands in the water.