This video showcases a kayak angler’s scary experience with a hammerhead shark. While he was out fishing in an area that the angler had obviously been fishing in before, he felt a bump on his kayak at the stern. When he turned he did not see anything. After feeling another bump from the stern he got a glimpse of a shark that looked to be checking him out.
According to an article by National Geographic, hammerhead sharks are aggressive hunters that feed on smaller fish, octopuses, squid, and crustaceans. They are not typically known to eat humans but they will act aggressively when defending their territory.
The angler in this video mentions in the description that this particular shark has not been seen in the area before. That being said, these sharks are typically bottom feeders and do not venture near the surface too often.
As a kayak angler who is far away from shore or any larger boats that could help, one can only imagine how terrifying this experience could have been. Luckily the angler was able to make his way towards shore after having to stab at the shark a number of times with his paddle blade.
This angler was not wearing his PFD in the video and this shows another instance where wearing one could save his life in the event that he was knocked out of his boat and injured by this shark. We are happy to see that he managed to escape the situation unharmed.
Featured Photo & Video: Youtube Mr. Markus
I see that guy in the mirror everyday. I think k he’s been following me around. Haha.
Dude, do you know you’re paddling with your blades upside down?
Good thing you hauled ass back in the back to the shore you were done Sun.
Good reminder to prepare before heading into open water. Opportunity taken to remind people about wearing PFDs. Opportunity lost to delve into knowing, and preparing, for the anticipated environment. As an example: Wear PFD. Outfit it with a readily available knife. Perhaps bring a spear for landing larger/toothy prey and for defense. Install float bags/foam inside kayak to make it unsinkable. Carry emergency paddle. Flares are required 3 miles from shore but danger does not have a distance limitation. etc, etc
That’s an exciting video with great resolution and shots of the shark. That shark seemed very determined and it took a lot of strikes with the paddle to deter it. No doubt this was a terrifying experience for the paddler. During the video, I was struck by the fact that he was paddling solo in the ocean a long way from shore and not wearing a PFD. I think these fishing kayaks instill a false sense of security in a lot of paddlers who mistakenly conclude that a capsize is unlikely. Yet kayak fishing is a sport in which balance can suddenly be lost when fighting and landing a large fish. BTW – It’s helpful if an article like this gives the date and location of the incident.
Can I just ask an obvious question? Is hitting a shark swimming around your boat a good thing to do? If they are not interested in you for food and it is a territory thing wouldn’t getting your ass out of there be the better choice? This guy ran the risk of falling in trying to hit the shark and hitting the shark didn’t seem to deter the shark so …. leave the area??? Plus the guy is paddling with his paddle flipped left for right and he is not wearing a PFD out on the ocean … just saying. Choices.
Not only was the paddler not wearing a PFD, as the author points out, but I couldn’t see that he even had one with him. Moreover, he was holding an asymmetric-bladed paddle upside down, reducing its efficiency. He doesn’t appear to be dressed for potential immersion, either. This person needs a paddling safety course badly.
Scary stuff for sure. Perhaps the only time the kayaker used the paddle well was when warding off the shark. Near the beginning of the video it looks like the non power face is pulling water and later the blades are on the wrong side of the boat ie the paddle needed to be flipped end to end.