My camera is broken. Bad news. But I still have been venturing out and seeing things.
Today I was out at Grayton Beach at the state park. I took my daughter out toward the second sandbar and met with my brother who is here from Louisiana with his kids.
We were collecting a great assortment of shells and many sand dollars that were already white/dead. Rather than search on the second sandbar, we stayed in the middle section, deeper than the sandbars, that offers a different assortment of finds. Sand dollars, especially at certain points, were by the hundreds.
Now to the Shark! I was swimming, looking down, and doing my best to maintain the form that I think mermaids would admire, when I saw an unusual 'fish' approaching my direction.
I was about 40 feet away from the two kayaks, tied together and with my daughter and her cousin floating on a boogie board beside it. At first, I thought the fish was a huge catfish, with its side fins jutting out. But as it neared me, under me at maybe a depth of 10 feet, I realized it was a shark.
It was beautiful and less than 5 feet long. It swam in a most graceful way, with no sudden moves, and if it saw me, it was not impressed enough to stop for a closer look, despite my very impressive swimming motion.
I watched it swim off in the direction of my daughter and brother so I called out to them, informing them of an upcoming shark. My brother immediately jumped into his kayak while the girls frantically faught for position. If I wouldn't know any better I could have sworn he mouthed, 'Save Yourself!'.
No, he really didn't, but he did get in the kayak first while the girls struggled. I yelled out that it wasn't a biggie, but all in all it was decent sized. I'm no shark expert but would guess that it was a sandbar shark.
The shark did work its way around and swim by us again and I was able to watch it for about 30 seconds, quite a long time in the water. It swam through with a number of other fish.
On this trip I found numerous gorgeous shells and numerous white/dead sand dollars. This middle section between sandbars, is deeper than the sandbars, offerings an area where neat things seem to collect.
I also saw a white, pvc conduit/tube, that was buried and appeared to head back to the shoreline. I saw a huge tire and some other odds and ends. It was a great trip out. I only wish I'd had my camera working to capture my findings, including the shark and all the fish I encountered.
Hopefully I'll have my camera sent off today and have it fixed. We'll see.
Replies
41
Beach FanaticAuthor
Adding to our amazing stories in Paradise.......
We went kayaking in the Grayton Beach area today. Water was beautiful away from shore (bloom at the surf). First we paddled over two nurse sharks just cruising by....then we encountered 6 different pods of dolphin! Each pod had 5-6 adults having a great time. As I positioned our kayaks, I actually had two different pods cruise under me. That was terrific. We even got a bonus as a couple of "frisky" dolphins were very playful as we watched. Kinda felt like the director of an adult film being produced.
Looking forward to tomorrow's outing....
Funny stiff, I mean, stuff, about the dolphin. A fellow kayaker and I discussed not seeing as many dolphin of late, so its funny that you mentioned having seen them. Good news.
I'd love to see them up close to the kayak, especially with my kiddies. I'll hopefully get out there tomorrow again. Each day that passes with my kids is another day closer to them leaving
It feels so much like home for me right now. And what a wonderful place to have my family. We've enjoyed our time, even as fleeting as it has been.Hopefully tonight and tomorrow continue to be wonderful memories, although my daughter may not consider shark encounters to be so wonderful ;-)
Beach Fanatic
Funny stiff, I mean, stuff, about the dolphin. A fellow kayaker and I discussed not seeing as many dolphin of late, so its funny that you mentioned having seen them. Good news.
I'd love to see them up close to the kayak, especially with my kiddies. I'll hopefully get out there tomorrow again. Each day that passes with my kids is another day closer to them leaving
Hopefully tonight and tomorrow continue to be wonderful memories, although my daughter may not consider shark encounters to be so wonderful ;-)
We haven't seen many this year either, so what a treat to see that many. We were able to get within 5-10 ft of the pods at surface, by just floating into their paths. Great memory.
Try the Grayton area tomorrow, who knows, they may be paid by TDC for the tourists
Skunky
Rapunzel and I were kayaking at Grayton tonight. Her kayak was acting funky, it is a Hobie Revolution, so I theorized her mirage drive fins were bent (and they were). I jumped out of mine to attempt a second sand bar adjustment, and almost instantly saw a shark below me. It looked like a nurse shark, maybe 3 feet or so. No biggee, I thought. I began getting ready to go under the kayak to work on the fins, and noticed a second shark about the same size as the first was now checking me out. So were the ramoras. That was enough adventure for one day without a mask to see that these truly were docile nurse sharks, so back on the kayak I got. I want to go back armed with a camera and a mask. It was really cool.
Beach Fanatic
no way. not me. i'm a chicken, no sharks for me.:leaving:i encountered a small hammerhead once and that was enufff!
Edited
Beach Fanatic
The neat thing about our beach is the lack of large shells. They get caught on the ledge just past the second sand bar. If you go over past St. Joe, you'll find the large shells on the beach. As one who has lived here all my life, we NEVER went past the second sand bar! Go at your own risk!
Beach Lover
Yesterday 8 AM in the Henderson State Park workers got everyone out of the water ..5 or 6 sharks swimming west.We saw one dark shape swim by. When they started blowing the whistles I thought JAWS!It was great!
Skunky
I went back out on the kayak today in search of a shark. It didn't take too long, and this was the largest of the ones I have seen. I am by no means an expert at identifying sharks, but based on the pictures I have looked at of sharks in our waters, I am going on a limb and guessing I saw a bull shark today.
It was cruising the second sand bar. I kept going over the fish in the kayak which didn't seem to bother him (her?) much. I guess it was five to six feet in length. I splashed the water with my paddle to see if I could get it to swim to the surface, but no luck. I got tired of following him and watched him swim away toward Seaside (I was in Grayton).
Didn't see any sharks closer than the second sandbar, but there were plenty of stingrays.
It was cruising the second sand bar. I kept going over the fish in the kayak which didn't seem to bother him (her?) much. I guess it was five to six feet in length. I splashed the water with my paddle to see if I could get it to swim to the surface, but no luck. I got tired of following him and watched him swim away toward Seaside (I was in Grayton).
Didn't see any sharks closer than the second sandbar, but there were plenty of stingrays.
Beach FanaticAuthor
After yesterday, I have to assume that nurse sharks are very abundant, because I ran into some more at another section of the beach.
I was out in my kayak, snorkeling, when I went down to retrieve some shells. The boat got away from me due to the slight wind that was present, but still, I went back down to get some shells I was unable to get on my first breath.
As I swam to my floating craft, I noticed an upside down V-shape on the bottom. I wondered if it was a great discovery, perhaps an old wooden hull of a boat. But as I neared closer, the shadowy shape came into clearer view. It was two nurse sharks nosed up to one another.
After a brief swim with them, I went to shore and retrieved my son, Evan, who was eager to go back out with me. It wasn't long before we met up with one of the nurse sharks. I was already out in the water, alongside the kayak when I spotted the dark shape, and Evan quickly joined me.
With Eavn taking in the view, I swam down and alongside the nurse shark as it gracefuly hugged the bottom. Other fish were surrounding the shark, having a party I guess. It was a fun swim, but even though I know nurse sharks won't actively attack without provocation, I didn't feel too comfortable with my son behind me as I swam the bottom. I guess its just the idea of a shark in the water, where there could be others, that makes it a bit spooky. The middle section between sandbars can be somewhat deep in sections and despite the waters clarity, it can be intimidating.
But it was a great little outing we had. My son experienced somewhat unique and special and will have a neat little story for his friends. Not that his friends will believe him. Too bad my camera is not back 'from the shop' yet. I've been having too many neat shark encounters. I need my camera!
Oh, and the lifeguards at the beach gave my daughter some sunscreen. Very nice of them. They also told me it is common for them to see the nurse sharks swim in and among the beachgoers when the green flags are present. I assumed the sharks are present all the time, but just easier to see under green flag conditions.
Until next time, Mike.
I was out in my kayak, snorkeling, when I went down to retrieve some shells. The boat got away from me due to the slight wind that was present, but still, I went back down to get some shells I was unable to get on my first breath.
As I swam to my floating craft, I noticed an upside down V-shape on the bottom. I wondered if it was a great discovery, perhaps an old wooden hull of a boat. But as I neared closer, the shadowy shape came into clearer view. It was two nurse sharks nosed up to one another.
After a brief swim with them, I went to shore and retrieved my son, Evan, who was eager to go back out with me. It wasn't long before we met up with one of the nurse sharks. I was already out in the water, alongside the kayak when I spotted the dark shape, and Evan quickly joined me.
With Eavn taking in the view, I swam down and alongside the nurse shark as it gracefuly hugged the bottom. Other fish were surrounding the shark, having a party I guess. It was a fun swim, but even though I know nurse sharks won't actively attack without provocation, I didn't feel too comfortable with my son behind me as I swam the bottom. I guess its just the idea of a shark in the water, where there could be others, that makes it a bit spooky. The middle section between sandbars can be somewhat deep in sections and despite the waters clarity, it can be intimidating.
But it was a great little outing we had. My son experienced somewhat unique and special and will have a neat little story for his friends. Not that his friends will believe him. Too bad my camera is not back 'from the shop' yet. I've been having too many neat shark encounters. I need my camera!
Oh, and the lifeguards at the beach gave my daughter some sunscreen. Very nice of them. They also told me it is common for them to see the nurse sharks swim in and among the beachgoers when the green flags are present. I assumed the sharks are present all the time, but just easier to see under green flag conditions.
Until next time, Mike.
Beach Comber
I am from TN so take my words with a grain of salt if you want. However, i have been coming to Destin 6 or 7 times a year since for the last 25 years. i snorkel and fish almost every day i am there, weather permitting. I have been as far as 1/2 mile off the beach just snorkeling around. Yes, i have seen sharks. No monsters but a shark is a shark. Now i am coming back down there in July for a week and will probably spend 15 -20 hours in the water with my snorkel on. I may get bit by a shark, or i may not. Only God knows, but from my past expirences, i am willing to bet against getting bit. I would not give asecond thought about getting in the ocean or keeping my kids from getting in.
Sharks are there every day!!! every day!!! I just think they are as curious as we are. Use some common sense and i think everything will be OK.
In fact last year i had a 4-5 footer swim within 10 feet of me in waist deep water. he never gave me a second look. One lady was screaming at me to get out while i was calling for my 10 year old to get in the water to check him out!
Great learning expirence for him and me. Just respect them. sure i am not goign to hang out with a 10 footer long but stay calm and he will most likely do the same.
And not every shark is a bull shark and not every bull shark is aggressive!
Sharks are there every day!!! every day!!! I just think they are as curious as we are. Use some common sense and i think everything will be OK.
In fact last year i had a 4-5 footer swim within 10 feet of me in waist deep water. he never gave me a second look. One lady was screaming at me to get out while i was calling for my 10 year old to get in the water to check him out!
Great learning expirence for him and me. Just respect them. sure i am not goign to hang out with a 10 footer long but stay calm and he will most likely do the same.
And not every shark is a bull shark and not every bull shark is aggressive!
Beach FanaticAuthor
I am from TN so take my words with a grain of salt if you want. However, i have been coming to Destin 6 or 7 times a year since for the last 25 years. i snorkel and fish almost every day i am there, weather permitting. I have been as far as 1/2 mile off the beach just snorkeling around. Yes, i have seen sharks. No monsters but a shark is a shark. Now i am coming back down there in July for a week and will probably spend 15 -20 hours in the water with my snorkel on. I may get bit by a shark, or i may not. Only God knows, but from my past expirences, i am willing to bet against getting bit. I would not give asecond thought about getting in the ocean or keeping my kids from getting in.
Sharks are there every day!!! every day!!! I just think they are as curious as we are. Use some common sense and i think everything will be OK.
In fact last year i had a 4-5 footer swim within 10 feet of me in waist deep water. he never gave me a second look. One lady was screaming at me to get out while i was calling for my 10 year old to get in the water to check him out!
Great learning expirence for him and me. Just respect them. sure i am not goign to hang out with a 10 footer long but stay calm and he will most likely do the same.
And not every shark is a bull shark and not every bull shark is aggressive!
I agree with you, fishheadspin. But it can be a little intimidating in the water with a big shark. And you are right, not every bull shark or great white, for that matter, just attacks anything that moves.
I have learned from personal experience to discount much of what I learned about nature from the common cliches you often hear. Even some people who are somewhat experienced with snakes tell me how 'aggressive' moccasin are, and that's when I stop listening to them as intently. I've seen differently in hundreds and hudreds of encounters. Then I see two Eastern Diamondback since moving here and find the same thing. People told me how aggressive they were, yet the two I saw were two of the most docile snakes I'd ever encountered.
I saw some footage of someone swimming with a Great White shark a few years ago and it stood in direct contrast to everything I'd known before. Then again, the footage we all grew up seeing of Great White coming up to cages and biting, seemingly wanting to eat or bite anything in its path, is what I so often saw. Those same sahrks also had chum in the water etc.
So I agree with you about probably having no fear of a shark actually attacking. And my son, like me, wanted to get into the water and experience it for himself. But, as parents know, its one thing to worry about yourself and quite another to have a little loved one to worry about.
If he hadn't passed out today we would be out there again. Hopefully tomorrow we can get out and try to see some rays also. He wants to get a good sighting of them to add to his list.
Btw, I sure enjoy, as always, the responses I get from people here. A guy I met said that while hiking the AT trail he met some incredible people, like minded. I find some interesting people tend to read and respond to my threads here. Soon, perhaps, I'll have video to share, too.
Beach Fanatic
A wise person on this board once said that when you pass the 2nd sand bar you have left "the beach" and entered "the ocean". I am very content to stay near the shore, but I love to hear the stories from more adventurous folk.
margarita brocolia
I have spent a lot of time in the gulf and have seen hundreds of sharks. We use to get out of the water when we would see one now we just keep and eye on them. They come around and tend to leave..
Also keep in mind they do not hang out in the 30A area. The rents are high here and shark are more of a blue collar creature. They seem to vacation in more affordable areas.
.
Beach FanaticAuthor
Yesterday I was out and found another starfish. I brought it to the surface so my son could check it out. He held it and said that it tickled as its little fingers moved along his skin.
I plan on getting out with my brother who will be visiting from Louisiana this weekend. I sure hope my camera can get here in time because I'd love to show you guys some of the stuff I come up with. I think you'll be surprised to see what's out there.
I plan on getting out with my brother who will be visiting from Louisiana this weekend. I sure hope my camera can get here in time because I'd love to show you guys some of the stuff I come up with. I think you'll be surprised to see what's out there.
Beach Fanatic
I am hearing about shark sightings almost daily. Most of these are by folks on Yolo boards or in kayaks near the second sandbar...
Beach Comber
When I was down earlier this month staying high up in a condo in One Seagrove place, I saw about 20 sharks one morning. The were all very early in the morning. However, we did see a large shark come within a few feet of a person floating in a raft around
1pm. It wasn't even near the second sandbar either. It was much closer to shore in about 4 foot of water. They never saw it. The next day there was another one cruising around about the same time.
1pm. It wasn't even near the second sandbar either. It was much closer to shore in about 4 foot of water. They never saw it. The next day there was another one cruising around about the same time.
Beach FanaticAuthor
Yesterday my brother and a friend arrived and my brother and i went out for a snorkel. I came across some neat stuff, including some beautiful star fish and a nurse shark. I swam down to see it and the fish that surrounded it piled into an even tighter ball and hugged next to the shark.
The experience I had next with the shark was wonderful, unfortunately, not captured on film. But my brother did get some of the shark on film so hopefully I'll be able to get that onto my computer and online for those interested.
The experience I had next with the shark was wonderful, unfortunately, not captured on film. But my brother did get some of the shark on film so hopefully I'll be able to get that onto my computer and online for those interested.
Checking your forum account
Please wait while we verify your forum account.