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Hammerhead Shark "attack" at Grayton

Smiling JOe avatar
SoWal Expert
5,833 views1
I don't think I have ever seen so many parents screaming with fear :eek: and their kids screaming :eek: 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.:eek::eek::eek: The water quickly cleared except for all of those screaming kids:eek: and daddies.:eek: Everyone was panicking:eek: 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

64
Smiling JOe avatar
SoWal ExpertAuthor
#52


Dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun...



Hey, this kid caught the Shark in question. :floor:




Actually, this one is a little closer to the size of the one seen yesterday at Grayton.
Beach Goddess avatar
Beach Lover
#53
30-gAy---I bet she had a hellova bite on her......
Sarah Moss avatar
Beach Lover
#54
Being a lifelong local, I thought that most sharks are nurse sharks around here. Nurse sharks aren't aggressive and sadly, tiger sharks and hammerheads (mako too?) do surface from time to time (sometimes deadly), but it seems that the majority of sharks are harmless. Of course I didn't think so when I last saw one in the waves. I didn't care what kind of shark it was, it was a *#$%^ SHARK!

I love this place and will always be out floating on the raft, (not that time of the month, no shiny jewlry, etc), but I do think that watching your distance to the shore can be a livesafer. Forget first sandbar, second sandbar....Don't go out too far! I know too far, but how do you explain it to people? You can't necessarily say past the 1st sandbar, nor the 2nd, so how do you tell them instict?! (*not so sure I worded that right, but be leery of going past the first sandbar!!!!*)

Shark nuggets....if fried right, they're tasty!
Sarah Moss avatar
Beach Lover
#55
When we first moved here in the early 80's a 14+' hammerhead washed up on shore at the goatfeathers access (then only a path through the dunes)...we thought it was normal. I wish I had the photos to scan, but I don't :(
DD avatar
SoWal Expert
#56
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..................

:floor: :floor: :funn:
Smiling JOe avatar
SoWal ExpertAuthor
#57
The latest report is that someone video taped the madness and it will be posted to youtube.com when they return from their vacation. ;-)
Paula avatar
Beach Fanatic
#58
When we first moved here in the early 80's a 14+' hammerhead washed up on shore at the goatfeathers access (then only a path through the dunes)...we thought it was normal. I wish I had the photos to scan, but I don't :(

Welcome, Snerd. It's good to hear from a lifetime local. I hope you get inspired to post more stories about the area from a local's perspective.
Smiling JOe avatar
SoWal ExpertAuthor
#59
Being a lifelong local, I thought that most sharks are nurse sharks around here. Nurse sharks aren't aggressive and sadly, tiger sharks and hammerheads (mako too?) do surface from time to time ...
I don't know which Shark species account for the greatest number in this area, but I have seen Black Tips and Hammerheads, and have surfer friends who have seen Mako's and Tiger Sharks. I have never heard anyone spotting a Nurse Shark along the beach, but maybe because they are uneventful.
Kurt avatar
Admin
#60
Sand sharks are what we have most of and do not bother anyone. Bull Sharks are the problem. They look a lot alike.
Beach Crab
#61
love the pic of my boots smilin joe!! Now as far as sharks are concerned..........

They have always been there and they will always be there. Tourists need to know that its best not to wear shiny things in the water (they look like fish) second, if you see a shark DONT freak out and splash around. Leave them alone and they will leave you alone. these rules are very simple. Now on the net ban, stupidest thing ever. A lot of my friends who have fished their whole lives lost their livelihood over that. Ever think that most fisherman follow the rules and dont want to overfish? This supports their families and feeds them!! Some of my best memories involve a bay skiff, my father, a large net, and 20 local kids chasing the mullet so the whole neighborhood could eat. WHY ARE NETS SO WRETCHED again??? if you go on about pictures of dead sea turtles ( you do realize these pics are actually taken off shores other than our own) I may have to get angry. BRING THE NETS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kurt avatar
Admin
#62
love the pic of my boots smilin joe!! Now as far as sharks are concerned..........

They have always been there and they will always be there. Tourists need to know that its best not to wear shiny things in the water (they look like fish) second, if you see a shark DONT freak out and splash around. Leave them alone and they will leave you alone. these rules are very simple. Now on the net ban, stupidest thing ever. A lot of my friends who have fished their whole lives lost their livelihood over that. Ever think that most fisherman follow the rules and dont want to overfish? This supports their families and feeds them!! Some of my best memories involve a bay skiff, my father, a large net, and 20 local kids chasing the mullet so the whole neighborhood could eat. WHY ARE NETS SO WRETCHED again??? if you go on about pictures of dead sea turtles ( you do realize these pics are actually taken off shores other than our own) I may have to get angry. BRING THE NETS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It wasn't the small guy that was the problem. Unfortunately the old days when the majority of people followed rules and cared for their environment are over.
Beach Lover
#63
to tell you the truth I think those days are just beginning. A lot of the younger generation (mine) are now becoming adults and have been well educated.

To punish the masses for the unjustices of a few is a crime.
Beach Lover
#64
accidently logged in under someone elses name. so you all know it was my perspective. laurawood
Smiling JOe avatar
SoWal ExpertAuthor
#65
I am glad to see the group of kids, whom were on the float during the shark incident, are still playing in the water (along with their dads). They are staying closer to shore, but are having a great time getting wet. :clap_1:

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