Shark Sighting today

[rocket136]

A 3 to 4 ft shark was sighted off Blue Mountain Beach at 9:30 this morning. I was really suprised how close he came in. There were a few people fishing which raises the question what do you do with a shark if you catch it? Let him go? or invite him to be the main guest a dinner?
RP

[Beachlover2]

How stupid is this - tourists threw beer cans at the shark - guess they don't know who the gulf really belongs to.




Miramar Beach reopened after shark sightings
HEATHER CIVIL
Monday July 2nd, 2007
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MIRAMAR BEACH — The sight of blood in the water near two large bull sharks sent swimmers scurrying from the Gulf of Mexico on Monday morning.

The 8-foot-long sharks were aggressively feeding on a large red fish near the shore behind Majestic Sun condominiums, said Gary Wise, beach safety director for the South Walton Fire District.

“They basically tore it right in half,” Wise said.

The sharks were first spotted at around 10:30 a.m.

Lifeguards cleared people out of the water while the sharks ate. They reopened the water to swimming about half an hour later.

During that period of time, a smaller blacktip shark was seen cruising along the shore between Majestic Sun and Surfside condominiums.

Some beachgoers threw empty beer cans at the four-and-a-half-foot shark as it swam by, Wise said.

“It was a mob scene,” he said.

No one was injured, and the sharks eventually left the area.

The incident comes on the heels of a similar situation that happened about a week-and-a-half ago.

On June 21, several large bull sharks were seen near the shore along Walton County Road 30A.

The sharks cruised a 3.5-mile stretch of beach from Gulfview Heights to Dune Allen Beach.

Officials closed the water to swimming for about two hours that day as the sharks swam 15 feet or so from shore.

Bull sharks are considered one of the more aggressive species of shark, and swimmers should be wary of them.

However, sharks live in the gulf and there is no reason to think anything strange is going on because of the two recent sightings of bull sharks, Wise said.

“It’s sharks doing what they normally do,” he said.

[NoHall]

A 3 to 4 ft shark was sighted off Blue Mountain Beach at 9:30 this morning. I was really suprised how close he came in. There were a few people fishing which raises the question what do you do with a shark if you catch it? Let him go? or invite him to be the main guest a dinner?
RP

My advice: Stay away from the sharp end.

He's asking his buddies, "What do I do with a fisherman when I catch him?"

[rocket136]

My advice: Stay away from the sharp end.

He's asking his buddies, "What do I do with a fisherman when I catch him?"

Sage advice

[BambooBay]

I spotted two sharks in the Bay yesterday (or possibly the same one twice)... One came within 2-3 feet of our dock and sniffed around my minnow basket.... He was about 4'...

[Miss Kitty]

"you might be a redneck if..."

[DD]

"you might be a redneck if..."

[ATJoe]

How stupid is this - tourists threw beer cans at the shark - guess they don't know who the gulf really belongs to.




Miramar Beach reopened after shark sightings
HEATHER CIVIL
Monday July 2nd, 2007
Comment on this Story | Read Comments


MIRAMAR BEACH — The sight of blood in the water near two large bull sharks sent swimmers scurrying from the Gulf of Mexico on Monday morning.

The 8-foot-long sharks were aggressively feeding on a large red fish near the shore behind Majestic Sun condominiums, said Gary Wise, beach safety director for the South Walton Fire District.

“They basically tore it right in half,” Wise said.

The sharks were first spotted at around 10:30 a.m.

Lifeguards cleared people out of the water while the sharks ate. They reopened the water to swimming about half an hour later.

During that period of time, a smaller blacktip shark was seen cruising along the shore between Majestic Sun and Surfside condominiums.

Some beachgoers threw empty beer cans at the four-and-a-half-foot shark as it swam by, Wise said.

“It was a mob scene,” he said.

Ooohhh. Throwing empty beer cans. How manly. Just like Steve Irwin did it. I'd be much more impressed if they waded in and wrestled it ashore or if they didn't want to catch it, simply wading in and poking at it with a stick would work.

Yeah, I'd pay to see those auditions for this year's Darwin Award.

[Chickpea]

An experienced diver once told me to punch a shark in the nose really hard if they bite you?????? Have no idea if this is true and even less if I would have quickness to think so fast if I ever saw a shark coming at me.....

[BeachSiO2]

An experienced diver once told me to punch a shark in the nose really hard if they bite you?????? Have no idea if this is true and even less if I would have quickness to think so fast if I ever saw a shark coming at me.....

I don't know if I would chance it. Sharp teeth+big mouth could equal no hand I would go for the eyes instead.

[ladyj]

"you might be a redneck if..."

A lifeguard who shall remain nameless called them "bubbas" off the cuff.

[BeachSiO2]

A lifeguard who shall remain nameless called them "bubbas" off the cuff.

Was it the two painted ones below?

[NoHall]

Ooohhh. Throwing empty beer cans. How manly. Just like Steve Irwin did it. I'd be much more impressed if they waded in and wrestled it ashore or if they didn't want to catch it, simply wading in and poking at it with a stick would work.

Yeah, I'd pay to see those auditions for this year's Darwin Award.

Steve-O would probably recommend tossing a full beer can. You want to suck up to those guys, not piss 'em off.

An experienced diver once told me to punch a shark in the nose really hard if they bite you?????? Have no idea if this is true and even less if I would have quickness to think so fast if I ever saw a shark coming at me.....

I don't know if I would chance it. Sharp teeth+big mouth could equal no hand I would go for the eyes instead.

Yeah...I heard to go for the eyes, too.

A lifeguard who shall remain nameless called them "bubbas" off the cuff.

Was it the two painted ones below?

Wow. That's who I want jumping in after me if I'm in distress...

[Miss Kitty]

...thsoe guys keep cropping up everywhere today!!!

[kathydwells]

What a waste of perfectly good beer.

[ATJoe]

Was it the two painted ones below?

The "A" on the guy to the right seems to be a little wider at the bottom.

[rocket136]

SoWal is becoming more upscale.. it's no longer the "redneck riviera" the sharks must be going upscale too. They're probably holding out for a well muddled mojito not just a can of PBR.

(I'm really just setting someone up for a bloody mary joke - not that I'd tell it myself)

[pgurney]

What a waste of perfectly good beer.

Otherwise known as alcohol abuse.

[seagrovelover]

What a waste of perfectly good beer.

took the words right out of my mouth sister!!!!!!

[NoHall]

What a waste of perfectly good beer.

Are we talking about wasting it on the sharks, or on the rednecks?

[Jdarg]

SoWal is becoming more upscale.. it's no longer the "redneck riviera" the sharks must be going upscale too. They're probably holding out for a well muddled mojito not just a can of PBR.

(I'm really just setting someone up for a bloody mary joke - not that I'd tell it myself)

I'm still laughing at the visual of a bunch of people throwing beer cans at sharks. It would be an instant Youtube classic.

[Tex]

Miramar Beach seems to be mentioned a lot when talk of sharks comes up. Is there a reason for this ? Me and my family are set to arrive @ this location this Sat. for a weeks stay.

[ozbeachmom]

Hubby and I arrived on the scene after the shark sighting at the beach. We proceded to sit in our chairs and enjoy our beverages while listening to people describe the shark, by the time people stopped talking about the shark, I believe he went from a 6ft shark to a great white. I was waiting for the film crew of Jaws to show up. So needless to say, we did not see the shark, but according to the bystanders, it was swimming around out there. My 6 year old asked why he couldn't go in the water and I explained it this way, "the water is the sharks house, and he didn't feel like company today!"

[Miss Kitty]

...great story ozmom!

[NoHall]

"the water is the sharks house, and he didn't feel like company today!"

If only the other humans saw it that way (especially those who think that beverage cans are good weapons!)

Your comment really makes me miss Steve Irwin. He made a lot of unannounced visits to some really strange "houses," but he did try to be respectful while he was there.

[Beachlover2]

Miramar Beach seems to be mentioned a lot when talk of sharks comes up. Is there a reason for this ? Me and my family are set to arrive @ this location this Sat. for a weeks stay.

I think the reason Miramar is mentioned a lot is because this is where a lot of tourists are - thereby the odds of seeing the shark are greater. If the shark swims by a beach with no one on it - does that mean he wasn't there???

[Uncle Timmy]

An experienced diver once told me to punch a shark in the nose really hard if they bite you?????? Have no idea if this is true and even less if I would have quickness to think so fast if I ever saw a shark coming at me.....

Go for the gills........seriously! If you have ever seen footage of a seaturtle being harassed by a shark they always nip at the shark's gills knowing it is the most sensative area.

Naturally, I would be surprised if anyone will have the presence of mind to remember this advice next time they are being bitten by a shark so we'll just file it away under the interesting but useless category, lol.

[Smiling JOe]

I think the reason Miramar is mentioned a lot is because this is where a lot of tourists are - thereby the odds of seeing the shark are greater. If the shark swims by a beach with no one on it - does that mean he wasn't there???

Also, Miramar is the location where the young girl was killed by a shark last year or the year before (I cannot remember which).


While trying to avoid getting bitten ("attacked") by a shark, think twice before using one of these seals as your floatation device. I hear that seals are tasty:

[arkiegirl]

The girl was killed 2 years ago (June 25) and it was a little east of Mirimar, at Camping on the Gulf.

[Smiling JOe]

The girl was killed 2 years ago (June 25) and it was a little east of Mirimar, at Camping on the Gulf.

I thought that beach was where Camping on the Gulf was still referred to as Miramar Beach, which starts near the west end of 30A.

[yippie]

I thought that beach was where Camping on the Gulf was still referred to as Miramar Beach, which starts near the west end of 30A.

It is referred to as Miramar. Santa Rosa Beach starts practically in the middle of Sandestin running east.

[Smiling JOe]

It is referred to as Miramar. Santa Rosa Beach starts practically in the middle of Sandestin running east.

It all is a bit confusing. The other day, I saw a road sign reading, "Miramar Beach" located around the Donut Hole, but I always thought it started west of Sandestin.

[yippie]

It's my understanding it starts in the middle of Sandestin. You can't go by the post office, that's for sure because the hospital has a Miramar Beach Zip code, but Publix which is one block west has a Santa Rosa Beach zip code.

The telephone exchanges are another confusing thing. The prefix 267 which is a Santa Rosa Beach prefix starts in the middle of Sandestin.

So, who knows?

[Miss Kitty]

It's my understanding it starts in the middle of Sandestin. You can't go by the post office, that's for sure because the hospital has a Miramar Beach Zip code, but Publix which is one block west has a Santa Rosa Beach zip code.

The telephone exchanges are another confusing thing. The prefix 267 which is a Santa Rosa Beach prefix starts in the middle of Sandestin.

So, who knows?

Hopefully the fire dept.!!!!

[Dave Rauschkolb]

People are WAY too paranoid about sharks. I've been surfing close to thirty years dangling my legs in waters all over the world and every time I have seen a shark they sprinted away as fast as it came around. I am sure there were many, many more I never saw that somehow managed not to take a bite.

The odds of getting attacked by shark are lower than being struck by lightning or snakebite or winning the lottery. Driving to Destin or anywhere is far more dangerous than swimming with the sharks. In the last 115 years only 15 people have died in Florida from shark attacks. There have been close to 500 documented non fatal injuries from shark attacks in the same amount of time; most of them have occurred on the east coast from small spinner sharks.

The Jaws movies and more recently, The Discovery Channel have created a continuing fascination and paranoia regarding sharks. A "shark sighting" should be no more out of the ordinary than a "sea gull sighting."

[kurt]

People are WAY too paranoid about sharks. I've been surfing close to thirty years dangling my legs in waters all over the world and every time I have seen a shark they sprinted away as fast as it came around. I am sure there were many, many more I never saw that somehow managed not to take a bite.

The odds of getting attacked by shark are lower than being struck by lightning or snakebite or winning the lottery. Driving to Destin or anywhere is far more dangerous than swimming with the sharks. In the last 115 years only 15 people have died in Florida from shark attacks. There have been close to 500 documented non fatal injuries from shark attacks in the same amount of time; most of them have occurred on the east coast from small spinner sharks.

The Jaws movies and more recently, The Discovery Channel have created a continuing fascination and paranoia regarding sharks. A "shark sighting" should be no more out of the ordinary than a "sea gull sighting."

I agree Dave and I tell people similar things all the time, although sharks are more rare to see than seagulls. But I also realize that fear of sharks is primal. It is an irrational fear but runs deep, and perception takes precedence over reality. You have better chance of dying by having a vending machine fall on you, but they have no teeth.

[Smiling JOe]

Statistically, you are much more likely to die from a dog attacking you than a shark. For me, seeing JAWS as a young kid ruined it for me. I go in the water all the time, but I often think about the big sharks swimming in the same water with me. I haven't freaked out when I've seen them, but personally, I'd rather swim with the alligators.

[Teresa]

Shark siting at grayton beach today! I was swimming in the gulf with jdarg, bdarg, beachmom and another friend carol, when we looked up and saw several folks onshore motioning for us to come in. we all froze. then we saw a guy onshore doing a shark fin on his head, folks still motioning to come in. We hauled ourselves onto shore, which seemed to take many minutes of swimming - we were further out than we realized.

Once on shore, our friends told us there was a shark, about 6 feet, swimming in our direction, it turned and swam away, then came back in our direction. One of our group (carol) saw it nearby as we were out there.

This was my first scared spit-less encounter in the gulf. Think I'll stay nearer to shore next time (the water was absolutely gorgeous and clear and felt so wonderful. we were really enjoying it until we saw the folks onshore motioning to us. panic!!!) well, bdarg didn't panic. he was the only one...

later we were so thankful we didn't have kids in the water with us.

yes, I realize that if we had never been told there was a shark, that we would have stayed out in the gulf blissfully unaware, and it would have just gone about its own business. probably...

[Jdarg]

Shark siting at grayton beach today! I was swimming in the gulf with jdarg, bdarg, beachmom and another friend carol, when we looked up and saw several folks onshore motioning for us to come in. we all froze. then we saw a guy onshore doing a shark fin on his head, folks still motioning to come in. We hauled ourselves onto shore, which seemed to take many minutes of swimming - we were further out than we realized.

Once on shore, our friends told us there was a shark, about 6 feet, swimming in our direction, it turned and swam away, then came back in our direction. One of our group (carol) saw it nearby as we were out there.

This was my first scared spit-less encounter in the gulf. Think I'll stay nearer to shore next time (the water was absolutely gorgeous and clear and felt so wonderful. we were really enjoying it until we saw the folks onshore motioning to us. panic!!!) well, bdarg didn't panic. he was the only one...

later we were so thankful we didn't have kids in the water with us.

yes, I realize that if we had never been told there was a shark, that we would have stayed out in the gulf blissfully unaware, and it would have just gone about its own business. probably...

I started our own shark thread

[Hop]

well, bdarg didn't panic. he was the only one...

[Johnrudy]

Shark siting at grayton beach today! I was swimming in the gulf with jdarg, bdarg, beachmom and another friend carol, when we looked up and saw several folks onshore motioning for us to come in. we all froze. then we saw a guy onshore doing a shark fin on his head, folks still motioning to come in. We hauled ourselves onto shore, which seemed to take many minutes of swimming - we were further out than we realized.

Once on shore, our friends told us there was a shark, about 6 feet, swimming in our direction, it turned and swam away, then came back in our direction. One of our group (carol) saw it nearby as we were out there.

This was my first scared spit-less encounter in the gulf. Think I'll stay nearer to shore next time (the water was absolutely gorgeous and clear and felt so wonderful. we were really enjoying it until we saw the folks onshore motioning to us. panic!!!) well, bdarg didn't panic. he was the only one...

later we were so thankful we didn't have kids in the water with us.

yes, I realize that if we had never been told there was a shark, that we would have stayed out in the gulf blissfully unaware, and it would have just gone about its own business. probably...

That is soooooooo scary! I cannot imagine the times, as kids, how close we probably came to encounters with sharks. We used to swim out and hang out at the sand bar, then swim back in over water that was so deep you couldn't even see the bottom. Makes me shiver at the possibilities.
You had a close one today!

[NoHall]

yes, I realize that if we had never been told there was a shark, that we would have stayed out in the gulf blissfully unaware, and it would have just gone about its own business. probably...

Sometimes going about my business involves having a snack...

[Jdarg]

2 sharks at gr8ton today and one monster tarpon and a partridge in a pear tree!

ha ha - you know you can tell everyone how graceful we were...

[Jdarg]

You guys must have been moving really fast I didn't even see you Jdarg crew.

Smokin' fast, baby!

[ItzKatzTime]

Shark siting at grayton beach today! I was swimming in the gulf with jdarg, bdarg, beachmom and another friend carol, when we looked up and saw several folks onshore motioning for us to come in. we all froze. then we saw a guy onshore doing a shark fin on his head, folks still motioning to come in. We hauled ourselves onto shore, which seemed to take many minutes of swimming - we were further out than we realized.

Once on shore, our friends told us there was a shark, about 6 feet, swimming in our direction, it turned and swam away, then came back in our direction. One of our group (carol) saw it nearby as we were out there.

This was my first scared spit-less encounter in the gulf. Think I'll stay nearer to shore next time (the water was absolutely gorgeous and clear and felt so wonderful. we were really enjoying it until we saw the folks onshore motioning to us. panic!!!) well, bdarg didn't panic. he was the only one...

later we were so thankful we didn't have kids in the water with us.

yes, I realize that if we had never been told there was a shark, that we would have stayed out in the gulf blissfully unaware, and it would have just gone about its own business. probably...

Doug told me he saw about 8-10 sharks in Grayton today. Most were small, but a few bigger. Said people got in the water, got out of the water, and got in the water.....again and again. (He was swimming too!) There's a lot of bait fish out now....so everybody just keep an eye out. These probably aren't dangerous, but you never know when that bull shark wants to swim by. At least the water is real clear and that helps with the confusion for the shark!!!! It's those dark water mornings and afternoons.

Kat
I'd rather be safe then sorry.

[ItzKatzTime]

Statistically, you are much more likely to die from a dog attacking you than a shark. For me, seeing JAWS as a young kid ruined it for me. I go in the water all the time, but I often think about the big sharks swimming in the same water with me. I haven't freaked out when I've seen them, but personally, I'd rather swim with the alligators.

SJ are you kidding???? Alligators! Now, those really scare me!

[Geo]

Shark siting at grayton beach today! I was swimming in the gulf with jdarg, bdarg, beachmom and another friend carol, when we looked up and saw several folks onshore motioning for us to come in. we all froze.

Once on shore, our friends told us there was a shark, about 6 feet, swimming in our direction, it turned and swam away, then came back in our direction. One of our group (carol) saw it nearby as we were out there.

Interesting. Then that makes 2 days in a row-

Yesterday (just after 3pm), I had my very first up close and personal experience with a shark since moving here in February. It was directly in front of the Spooky Lane beach access.

I was in the water about 15 feet from shore in about waist deep water holding my 4 year old son who was dangling his legs in the water. We were in the water for less than 2 minutes when I looked up and right in front of me, no more than 20 feet away and swimming East was about a 6 foot bull shark.

The water was nice and clear and he was so close that I could see all the detail on him. It was quite surreal- so much so that I froze and did nothing but stare. He paid no attention to us and kept going.

A few seconds passed which felt like an eternity and then I quickly got out, handed my son off to family and I jogged down the beach alerting the next closest swimmers.

A small pack of us had formed and moved with the shark parallel to the shoreline watching in disbelief and getting others out of the water. From that vantage point he appeared as little more than a big gray blob and then one woman shouted, "Where? I don't see him" and the most bizarre thing happened. It was as if the shark heard her and he immediately swam straight at us and was only about 12 feet or so from shore facing us. So if anyone had any doubts what their eyes were seeing at this point they was quickly erased.

Then he turned East again and at that point Ed Walline lifeguards must have heard and rode by on a Polaris to warn folks so I turned around and went back to my beachchair to tell my big fish story to my wife who missed the whole thing because she was out on a kayak looking for marine life!

A strange calm came over me- the realization that:

A) the shark did nothing
B) if sharks can come in so close to us without being detected on a clear day then one who wanted to harm me could and there is really nothing I can do about it anyway so why worry

But I'll tell you- when we went down for sunset and the dogs were playing a few feet in the water (same spot I saw the shark) it drove me crazy that I knew for certain that one could get them for dinner right there...

Anyway, just wanted to share.

I have done my best to not exaggerate the facts. I have made nothing up.

Cheers, GW

[ItzKatzTime]

Interesting. Then that makes 2 days in a row-

Yesterday (just after 3pm), I had my very first up close and personal experience with a shark since moving here in February. It was directly in front of the Spooky Lane beach access.

I was in the water about 15 feet from shore in about waist deep water holding my 4 year old son who was dangling his legs in the water. We were in the water for less than 2 minutes when I looked up and right in front of me, no more than 20 feet away and swimming East was about a 6 foot bull shark.

The water was nice and clear and he was so close that I could see all the detail on him. It was quite surreal- so much so that I froze and did nothing but stare. He paid no attention to us and kept going.

A few seconds passed which felt like an eternity and then I quickly got out, handed my son off to family and I jogged down the beach alerting the next closest swimmers.

A small pack of us had formed and moved with the shark parallel to the shoreline watching in disbelief and getting others out of the water. From that vantage point he appeared as little more than a big gray blob and then one woman shouted, "Where? I don't see him" and the most bizarre thing happened. It was as if the shark heard her and he immediately swam straight at us and was only about 12 feet or so from shore facing us. So if anyone had any doubts what their eyes were seeing at this point they was quickly erased.

Then he turned East again and at that point Ed Walline lifeguards must have heard and rode by on a Polaris to warn folks so I turned around and went back to my beachchair to tell my big fish story to my wife who missed the whole thing because she was out on a kayak looking for marine life!

A strange calm came over me- the realization that:

A) the shark did nothing
B) if sharks can come in so close to us without being detected on a clear day then one who wanted to harm me could and there is really nothing I can do about it anyway so why worry

But I'll tell you- when we went down for sunset and the dogs were playing a few feet in the water (same spot I saw the shark) it drove me crazy that I knew for certain that one could get them for dinner right there...

Anyway, just wanted to share.

I have done my best to not exaggerate the facts. I have made nothing up.

Cheers, GW

That sent chills up my spine......what a story!

[Smiling JOe]

SJ are you kidding???? Alligators! Now, those really scare me!

Not kidding. I grew up water skiing in a lake with plenty of gators and I spent a summer working with them all around me in waist deep water. Sharks seem a little erratic and more unpredictable, and when blood hits the water, forget-about-it. Not so with gators.

[Smiling JOe]

Then he turned East again and at that point Ed Walline lifeguards must have heard and rode by on a Polaris to warn folks so I turned around and went back to my beachchair to tell my big fish story to my wife who missed the whole thing because she was out on a kayak looking for marine life!

Life is funny like that sometimes. Occasionally, we get so focused on one thing that we forget to open our minds and look at the life right before our very eyes.