Hammerhead Shark Circles Offshore Kayak Anglers (Video)

Big ocean predator is drawn to blood from their catch

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Sharks are a pesky fact of life for saltwater anglers, but itโ€™s not too often that you end up in the sights of a hungry hammerhead. Thatโ€™s exactly what happened to Devin Oโ€™Dea and Larry Laumann from Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, who share their footage from a fishing adventure off La Jolla, California. Believe it or not, the shark is only the second-scariest thing in this video. Read on for the life-threatening detail that may escape your notice.

Square in the Sights of a Hammerhead

Oโ€™Dea and Laumann describe their trip as follows:

โ€œAfter a sketchy launch due to 3-4 ft swells and a high tide crashing on the reef and cliffs, [the anglers] headed approximately 3 miles out to chase bluefin and yellowtail. They caught spanish mackerel with sabiki rigs on the way out for bait, landed a few rockfish and ended up hooking up with a big yellowtail.โ€

The yellowtail is a beauty, and a beast to land because its head is awkwardly snagged. The anglers work together to get the fish gaffed and into Oโ€™Deaโ€™s boatโ€”and just in time. โ€œBig shark fin,โ€ Oโ€™Dea points out as it surfaces mere feet from his boat. โ€œBig hammerhead!โ€ Laumann adds, using his underwater camera to capture some great close-up footage.

kayak angler sees the fin of a hammerhead shark after catching a yellowtail
โ€œYou got blood coming right off your kayak and he is all over it. … Heโ€™s big, dude.โ€ | Image: Backcountry Hunters & Anglers/YouTube

โ€œWell, weโ€™ve got some mackerel,โ€ Laumann jokes, โ€œwant to catch a big hammerhead?โ€

โ€œNo, I think Iโ€™ve had my thrill!โ€ replies Oโ€™Dea, and the two turn for shore.

The shark is undeterred, continuing to circle and bump their boats. โ€œWith the yellowtailโ€™s blood dripping out of the kayak,โ€ the video describes, โ€œthe hammerhead followed them over a mile on their pedal back to shore.โ€

Whatโ€™s Scarier Than A Hungry Hammerhead?

The most dangerous part of this trip is not the shark encounter, but rather the lack of safety gear worn by either angler. Whatever your skill level, a properly fitted PFD is the most important piece of safety equipment on any kayaking trip. Wearing a PFD is even more essential for offshore anglers, who must contend with storms, swells and changing tides among other marine threats.

To learn how to properly outfit yourself for such a trip, see our recent video post on Must-Have Safety Gear For Offshore Kayak Fishing. As for hammerhead sharks, youโ€™re on yourย own!

 

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2 COMMENTS

  1. Offshore – storm coming – big hammerhead – no life jacket on either paddler or visible on the deck of either kayak. Not something I think Kayak Angler should support.

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