Sharks are a pesky fact of life for saltwater anglers, but itโs not too often that you end up in the sights of a hungry hammerhead. Thatโs exactly what happened to Devin OโDea 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
OโDea and Laumann describe their trip as follows:
โAfter 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 OโDeaโs boatโand just in time. โBig shark fin,โ OโDea points out as it surfaces mere feet from his boat. โBig hammerhead!โ Laumann adds, using his underwater camera to capture some great close-up footage.
โWell, weโve got some mackerel,โ Laumann jokes, โwant to catch a big hammerhead?โ
โNo, I think Iโve had my thrill!โ replies OโDea, and the two turn for shore.
The shark is undeterred, continuing to circle and bump their boats. โWith the yellowtailโs blood dripping out of the kayak,โ the video describes, โthe hammerhead followed them over a mile on their pedal back to shore.โ
Whatโs 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, youโre on yourย own!
And not a PFD between them! Darwin Awards…..
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.