Posted by TSea4 on July 03, 2002 at 06:25:32:
In Reply to: Re: wanna play w/ Texas sharks? posted by jas on July 02, 2002 at 08:20:20:
I'm not real sure of the numbers, but it's something close to NONE. We do have problems in the early Summer with blacktips taking waders' stringers off. It happened in Matagorda Bay to something like 6 guys (2 of which I knew) in ONE weekend. Blacktips grow fairly thick. They go anywhere from 2-6 feet. We caught a 4 footer that went 50 pounds, and I know that I sure wouldn't fight one for my stringer. I watched them sitting out in the rollers last Summer on my first paddle in the surf. I was test-paddling a buddy's boat and I saw a small school of them in the green swells. VERY cool. Nothing to make me paddle or swim like a scared little girl.
Texas isn't known for it's shark attacks. I'm sure hammers are not aggressive towards us human types, but then Texas isn't loaded with people doing their startlingly real seal impersonations. Nor do we have cute, brown sharks snacks swimming to and fro. We have our share of small hits during the big hammer migration from time to time, but I would say it's less than one a decade. I'm working on getting an accurate number from a marine bio guy at TAMU-Corpus Christi.
In the meantime, check out what a big hammer did to a tarpon in Florida. CHUM, anyone?? Yeah, I'm SURE they're as timid as a baitfish. "Honey, let's take the kids out on the floaties for a closer look..." Honestly, any predatory fish that EASILY grows to 12 feet in length has to be given respect. I shudder to think of what I'd do if confronted with one. Probably punch it in the nose while I'm grabbing my blade, then- GO FOR THE EYES!! Use the blood to make cool, shark-killer war-paint designs on your face. Yeah, man...
FINE. Paddle like a scared little girl!!