I have a question to put out to the Swaylocks community.
Yesterday, a couple of friends and I went out for a Kitesurf wave session at a local spot (Atas.Beach in Morro Bay). I had only been out a few minutes when another kiter ( who we didn’t know) yelled Shark and we all got out. I went & spoke with the guy & he said he saw a 12’ gw punch through the wave about 20 yards away from him. I was probably 50 or 75 yards away & didn’t see it. It was late enough in the day, that we all just packed it in.
The question is : What should I have done? I didn’t see actually see the shark. There have been numerous sightings & one attack in the last few years - should I have reported it to the authorities so they could “post the beach”?
Right before I left, I did observe a guy go out & try to body surf there and was able to wave him in & let him know about it.
Apparently - no-one else reported it either because it wasn’t in the morning news & ther were no signs posted at the beach this morning.
some claim they aren’t afraid of sharks… I am not one of them, I would of got out also. as far as reporting if you didn’t see it then you probably dont need to report it.
its better to live to surf another day than score another 15 minutes IMO
Call SLO County Lifeguards and report a 2nd hand sighting to them. Usually they will keep a closer eye on areas where there have been reported sightings. Going so far as to patrol the area on jet ski or boat to confirm the sighting and post the beach if confirmed. That whole stretch from Carbo south to Pt Sal is known Great White free range. Surf at your own risk.
When I see one, (a shark) or believe/feel that one is present, I get out of the water. There will ALWAYS be waves, there won’t always be a tomorrow. It has only occurred to me four times, in 61 years of surfing.
Been a couple hangin out at SanO lately, people have been seeing them at least once a week while I’m out. I stay out unless the sun already set haha. But then again, these were just 6-7 ft juveniles. If someone saw a 12 footer (fluffy) I’d probably get out too haha
Seeing as how that gal was bitten last year at A-Beach disgression is the wiser choice. You could have let the Coast Guard know about the alleged sighting and they would monitor the situation. Then stop at Tog’s for good grinds. It could be the same shark back for the season. It got a chance last year…why not try again? Heard there was one outside the Pit a few days ago. Cuidate Mijo.
Thanks for the input everybody. There was neveer a question about getting out. Like you all said there will always be urf tomorrow. My questions was as to whether to report it as I didn’t actually see the shark & don’t know the guy who did.
Thanks Lowell -just got off the phone with SLOCL & they said they would check it out.
I’ve seen a few sharks in my 40+ years of surfing. Some have been small enough to ignore, others big enough 6’+ to be scarey and I usually get out because my mindgame gets stuffed up, but I didn’t get out the one time I saw a bronzy, I just hung out in the crowd. The shark had eyed me and swum past like 10 feet away, so it wasn’t up to tasting, I guess.
I’ve warned other surfers about sharks and some have got out, but not all. Their logic was, “you’ll never see the one that bites you and the ones you see obviously aren’t interested”.
A 12’ GW is big enough to be mainly eating mammals* so discretion was probably the best course of action.
I was getting ready to paddle out at my favorite point last Fall when two sea lions came hauling ass toward me. I thought WTF is this, and they kept going almost to the beach. Just as I got out far enough to start paddling, I saw a GW in a wave in front of me, probably 10 yards away, about 8 or 9 feet in length. Would have made a great photo, but no camera. Only one other guy out and he was so far away, he couldn’t have heard me if I wanted to get his attention. I watied a few minutes, then paddled out. Didn’t think about it until later. It had been my understanding, based on an article I’d read, that the juvies are only after fish. I’ve more recently read that some juvies that size will take an exploratory bite at things other than fish, so now, I think, I’d probably go elsewhere if I saw one that size again. Had a great session that day and a great memory of the sighting.