South African kayak anglers are built differently. Where here in North America, we’ve gone the route of wider, super-stable fishing kayaks, they’ve taken to narrow, ocean-going sit-ons resembling sea kayaks or surf skis. With these designs, staying upright while fighting a fish means trusting the shape of the hull. It also means things can get spicy quick. Such a moment is caught on video, when a shark smacks this angler’s kayak, almost knocking him in the water.
Shaun Reid of Fishing Corner SA is having the day of a lifetime when he doubles up on couta, also commonly called king mackerel, off the coast of South Africa. As he is reeling in the first couta, a shark finds his fish before it can reach the boat. He brings it to the surface seeing it has been bitten in half.
“Oh, I just got taxed,” Reid acknowledges.
Reid grabs his gaff to grab what’s left. But the shark isn’t finished yet. As Reid gaffs the fish the shark storms toward it, hitting Reid’s kayak. Reid nearly flips, throwing his legs out to the side as outriggers.
“I just got smashed,” He exclaims. Then the angler watches as the shark goes for the rest of his catch, taking Reids gaff in the process.
“That was savage,” Reid states as he watches the rest of the event unfold in front of him. A good phrase for the occurrence, and perhaps still understated for what’s just another day of kayak fishing in South Africa.
South Africa – the home of enormous Great White Sharks. That was a beautiful King Mackerel – too bad it got halved. I would have pissed myself in that flimsy kayak after that shark nearly dumped him in the water. Reid is laughing – too much!