Hammerhead Shark "attack" at Grayton

SoWal Expert

Jul 17, '06 · 6:05 PM5,8331

I don't think I have ever seen so many parents screaming with fear

and their kids screaming

right back at them. The quick story is that about 20 small kids were on a big @ss float at the first sandbar and a few daddies were holding the float while standing on the bar.

Someone spotted a

shark.

The water quickly cleared except for all of those screaming kids

and daddies.

Everyone was panicking

just like the movie JAWS. It was chaos. :blink:

The dads quickly tried swimming

the big float filled with kids back to shore and I am sure it felt like it took them 30 minutes to do so. Kids were crying and screaming, scared to death. ( I am thinking relax. Breathe.) Our brave, local heros, Rick(local), Brian Wise (WaCo Ramblers), Kelly and JP (both work at RedBar) were going in to pull kids to shore. Everyone watched as the small Hammerhead (Rick says it was a Hammerhead but I couldn't tell) swam up and down the beach, very close to shore. No one was hurt, but there are a few kids who will be ruined for life with their shark experience. I say everyone who saw the shark should consider themselves lucky. It was a special moment. (Nothing like that kind of fear to make one feel small again.) ;-)

For those of you who did not read closely, there was no actual attack by the shark.

Replies

Beach Comber

Jul 18, '06 · 2:20 PM#27

Thanks kurt and sj, both posts very helpful. the picture is great. bud, i agree, and am not too worried about the risk. but just like the risk of being struck by lightning is low, i know not to get under a tree during a lightning storm. similarly, while the risk of a shark encounter is low, I would prefer not to take actions that would subject me to unnecessary risk. so, i would want to know, if, while my family was swimming at the first sand bar (with my permission), the locals (who spend more than one week a year at the beach and are more familiar with the inherent "wildness" of the ocean) are thinking to themselves, "what in the heck are they doing splashing around out there?" After watching that program on the Weather Channel, I got the impression that the locals in the destin area had these thoughts concerning the poor girl that was attacked. i dont want my loved ones to be in the same situation.

My point is--I think the unqualifiied statement that, in regard to the possibility of encouterning a shark, "you are more likely to get struck by lightning," gives a false sense of security to those who might, through ignorant bliss, swim out to the deeps with no concern whatsoever.

thanks again for the local insight! From an unworried, but aware, tourist.

Beach Fanatic

Jul 18, '06 · 2:22 PM#28

Also, aren't solid color bathing suits in colors other than yellow or orange better? We always get my son a plain light blue suit that is for the gulf and a wild patterned one for the pool.

Great idea miramargal!! :lolabove:

Beach Fanatic

Jul 18, '06 · 2:39 PM#29

Also, aren't solid color bathing suits in colors other than yellow or orange better? We always get my son a plain light blue suit that is for the gulf and a wild patterned one for the pool.

Sharks don't see in color, do they? I can understand not wearing anything shiny that could reflect sunlight, but wearing a certain color swimsuit?

Any marine biologists around? :lol:

Beach Fanatic

Jul 18, '06 · 2:46 PM#30

My wife bought me trunks with shiny silver fish medallions dangling from the legs. Come to think of it...she did have a smirk when she gave them to me.

SoWal Expert

Jul 18, '06 · 2:48 PM#31

My wife bought me trunks with shiny silver fish medallions dangling from the legs. Come to think of it...she did have a smirk when she gave them to me.

I'd only be concerned if you had the trunks on, and she told you to swim next to 5 fisherman while holding a golf club in a lightening storm.

SoWal ExpertAuthor

Jul 18, '06 · 2:48 PM#32

Sharks don't see in color, do they? I can understand not wearing anything shiny that could reflect sunlight, but wearing a certain color swimsuit?

Any marine biologists around?

From www.graysreef.nos.noaa.gov/tw/sharks.html
"Sharks are well adapted to their watery environment. They have good eyesight and the ability to see colors. "

**************************************
from www.thesea.ecsd.net/sharks1.htm

"[font=Comic Sans MS, Arial, Helvetica] [/font][font=Comic Sans MS, Arial, Helvetica]Eyesight- Sharks don't see color or detail the way we do, but they have eyes well suited to see in the dim light of the ocean. They are quick to see moving objects and to see changes in light and shadow."

Makes you wonder what they do see.
[/font]

SoWal ExpertAuthor

Jul 18, '06 · 2:52 PM#33

I'd only be concerned if you had the trunks on, and she told you to swim next to 5 fisherman while holding a golf club in a lightening storm.

...and under a Coconut Tree. :floor:

Beach Fanatic

Jul 18, '06 · 2:53 PM#34

Puts me in the mind of one of my favorite movie quotes:

the thing about a shark... he's got lifeless eyes. Black eyes. Like a doll's eyes. When he comes at ya, doesn't seem to be living... until he bites ya, and those black eyes roll over white and then... ah then you hear that terrible high-pitched screamin'. The ocean turns red, and despite all the poundin' and the hollerin', they all come in and they... rip you to pieces

Quint in "Jaws."

Beach Fanatic

Jul 18, '06 · 2:54 PM#35

The "Au de Mackrel" suntan lotion she got me was over the top though.

SoWal Insider

Jul 18, '06 · 2:57 PM#36

...and under a Coconut Tree.

I don't think it's what they see. I think it's this dang music that sends them into a frenzy.

http://www.sharkattackphotos.com/Sounds/jawstheme.wav

SoWal Expert

Jul 18, '06 · 2:58 PM#37

The "Au de Mackrel" suntan lotion she got me was over the top though.

I think you are going to take this board to a whole new level. :lolabove:

Beach Fanatic

Jul 18, '06 · 2:58 PM#38

Ahhh...I bet she did it just for the hallibut. :funn:

Beach Lover

Jul 18, '06 · 3:02 PM#39

Well, as far as the color thing, I remember reading about "shark safety" a few years ago when the attacks started to make national news and one of them said that the color yellow is known as "yum yum yellow" to shark experts because it attracts them and the same about orange. I don't know why. We just figured that the light blue would be the closest to the color of water and least likely to attract attention.

I must admit I cringe inside every time my son goes out in the water with his boogie board. But we have spent years teaching him to love the gulf and it would be absurd to try to take that away from him now. He knows to respect the wildlife, that it is their home first.

picky

Jul 18, '06 · 3:03 PM#40

Puts me in the mind of one of my favorite movie quotes:

the thing about a shark... he's got lifeless eyes. Black eyes. Like a doll's eyes. When he comes at ya, doesn't seem to be living... until he bites ya, and those black eyes roll over white and then... ah then you hear that terrible high-pitched screamin'. The ocean turns red, and despite all the poundin' and the hollerin', they all come in and they... rip you to pieces

Quint in "Jaws."

Now you've done it. You've gone ahead and said the "J" word. :creepy:

Beach Fanatic

Jul 18, '06 · 3:05 PM#41

The color yellow thing makes sense. Ever seen canaries hanging around the beach?

Beach Lover

Jul 18, '06 · 3:06 PM#42

Why does the "Jaws" thing always pop up just before I go to the beach?

I saw it on t.v. the other day and turned the channel...and now...

da da....da da....da da da da da da...da da dahhhhhh.....

...sometimes the net just can't capture the subtle innuendo...

Beach Fanatic

Jul 18, '06 · 3:07 PM#43

Naw...thats the Dragnet song.

Beach Lover

Jul 18, '06 · 3:15 PM#44

...or maybe the Pink Panther song.

Beach Fanatic

Jul 18, '06 · 3:46 PM#45

Well, as far as the color thing, I remember reading about "shark safety" a few years ago when the attacks started to make national news and one of them said that the color yellow is known as "yum yum yellow" to shark experts because it attracts them and the same about orange. I don't know why. We just figured that the light blue would be the closest to the color of water and least likely to attract attention.

OK, now I think I want to spray paint my Ocean Kayak (sunrise color) BLUE

Beach Lover

Jul 18, '06 · 3:51 PM#46

skipper, might be a good idea...check this out.
http://www.lostenterprises.com/prod/newsArtical.php?ID=769

Here are some references to "yum yum yellow"
http://www.shipsrecord.com/blogs/patrick/archive/2005/01/21/157.aspx
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/isaf/color.htm

Admin

Jul 18, '06 · 4:16 PM#47

Sharks don't see in color, do they? I can understand not wearing anything shiny that could reflect sunlight, but wearing a certain color swimsuit?

Any marine biologists around?

I found plenty of research that says they do, before considering and rejecting a red kayak.

It's not the probability of a shark bite that is scary, it is the bite itself. Shark attack, based on probability is an unreasonable fear I chalk up to our primal nature. It's in our DNA way back before we emerged from the ocean. Of course Spielberg didn't help out either. :lol:

I have had to make an effort at times to control emotions in the gulf. When I was a child, sharks never entered my mind while I was swimming. I try to be that way now.

Beach Fanatic

Jul 18, '06 · 4:19 PM#48

Don't want one to come after Cooper :shock:

Beach Fanatic

Jul 18, '06 · 4:21 PM#49

Well, as far as the color thing, I remember reading about "shark safety" a few years ago when the attacks started to make national news and one of them said that the color yellow is known as "yum yum yellow" to shark experts because it attracts them and the same about orange. I don't know why.

I seem to remember an Asian draq queen by the name of Yum Yum Yellow who performed in bars in Mobile years back. I'm willing to bet the sight of her cruising Grayton Beach would send the tourists screaming too..................

SoWal ExpertAuthor

Jul 18, '06 · 4:22 PM#50

OK, now I think I want to spray paint my Ocean Kayak (sunrise color) BLUE

What about painting a Killer Whale on the bottom or your boat, or swimsuits with prints of Killer Whales? :funn:

Beach Fanatic

Jul 18, '06 · 4:30 PM#51

What about painting a Killer Whale on the bottom or your boat, or swimsuits with prints of Killer Whales? :funn:

Oh great, like its not traumatic enough to search for a swimming suit to flatter...now we need to get one with a whale print? No thanks, I think I?ll take my chances. Besides, I always make sure I go in with a group and stand in the middle...let the weaker ones on the outside get hit first. :rolling: