Saw Basking sharks this weekend

[Tarbh Nathroch]

It was so neat. I can now add Basking sharks to the long list of animals I have been near in the water.

While swimming off my kayak out at my favored spot off Fossil Point. I noticed a noisy commotion from the cliffs above me. I looked up to see several people freaking out, yelling “SHARK!!!” and “GET OUT!!!”. Having been bitten in the leg last year only a few hundred yards from where I was, I suffered a bit of a flashback and got onto my kayak as fast as I could. I was a bit freaked out I’ll admit. Once on the kayak I could see two sharks coming my way big ones much bigger than my kayak. Great White in size but the fins were the wrong color. Now the fear was gone or over powered by curiosity. I positioned my kayak in their path. The first one came by and I could see the huge mouth open all the way just this huge gaping space, I could see right out through its gills. Once I realized what it was I slid back into the water. They were huge just awesome in size slow, graceful and powerful in their movement. I was completely ignored. Even with their slow pace I had no hope of matching their pace and was in sight of them for only a few minuets.

I had no idea they even lived in these waters. It was so fantastic. A harbor patrol boat ended up flying by and a second one came along side me. I knew these guys and they know me that’s why they stopped they know I swim there. They mentioned that they were getting shark calls from people from Pismo through Shell Beach with the most resent from Pirates Cove right near where I was and that I should get outa there. I told them about the Basking sharks and sent them in the proper direction.

What a great day.

[SoulHealer]

We get a lot of basking sharks in this area - we have a problem that so many boats go up to them to try and touch them and annoy the sharks

I remember overhearing two young boys who had been on speed boat trip telling their dad they had seen a shark and that the man had stopped the boat right by them. The father was nearly calling them liars....so I told the father that there were basking sharks in the area (not great whites like I think he was imagining)

[Valnorran]

Cool! I didn't know there were basking sharks in CA waters, either.

[Tarbh Nathroch]

We get a lot of basking sharks in this area - we have a problem that so many boats go up to them to try and touch them and annoy the sharks

I hear that. Some folks are just not that bright, I might be included in that with the chances I take (but I never try to touch the animal), but we have a problem with people trying to touch the seals and the sea otters. The otters make their way from where they live to eat off the pier pillars everyday. There have been visitors bitten really badly from grabbing sea otters. They’re cute but ARE wild.

Oh and where is your area?

[misty]

That is really cool! I wish you could have gotten some pictures!

[Dove]

Ohhhhhh my gawwwwwwwwwwwd
How Very Cool!!!

I've read about Basking Sharks.
Awesome Creatures!!!!! :woot:

[Calen]

It irritates me when people insist on poking and prodding every animal they happen upon. Yes, they're very cute and interesting, but it's still Nature, have some respect, not to mention a thought for your own safety.

[Jenne]

Very cool Dude--you have quite a few adventures under your belt out there! _twohorns_

[DonovanJoseph]

man thats titee. if it was me i'd still probobly be scared sh*tless whether they had teeth or not, haha :crylaugh:

[Dave the Druid]

Good for you! _handclapp

I dive alot and have seen a lot of fish, honu, dolphin and yes sharks. I've never seen a basking shark but for some reason they seem to be on my mental "don't worry too much" list.

Any brush with nature is a good one and this should be reveled in.

[Tarbh Nathroch]

It’s now a toss up between the two Basking Sharks and Mola Molas as the biggest animals I’ve been with in a few feet of in the water. Dolphins aren’t quite as big as these fallas were and the male Sea Lions, the only things in the water at the beach I live that I am truly afraid of, aren’t as big as these things were either.

I’ve been within a few feet of a Great white but on a boat.

I know mola molas get much bigger than Basking sharks but I’m just comparing the ones I’ve been near.

Now if I can just get that close to a whale. When they come though here they are usually passing by so they are moving fairly quick. They do lap the bay every once in a while.

[Valnorran]

What's a mola mola? And some places have tight laws regarding whales, something like you need to be doing research to get within 100 yards of them. I don't know if that's federal or local, though.

[Valnorran]

I've never seen a basking shark but for some reason they seem to be on my mental "don't worry too much" list.
Unless you're plankton, you don't have much reason to worry about them! They're big (I believe forty feet is the max. length) so I supposes accidents could happen, but I think you'd have to perform an ingenious bit of screwing up.

[Tarbh Nathroch]

What's a mola mola? And some places have tight laws regarding whales, something like you need to be doing research to get within 100 yards of them. I don't know if that's federal or local, though.
Also called Sunfish. It's a real cool fish. They lay flat on the surface sucking up jellyfish.

And yes I'm fairly sure getting near the whales is very illegal not to mention dangerus. A few years back a whale breched right next to a boat and landed on it. The piolot was killed. I'll have to see if I can find the pictures of the boat. The Coast Guard boys never heard of such a thing and thought the guys were lying about a boat to boat colition. But there was whale flesh on the boat. No worries for the whale it was seen with damage but seemed to be doing fine.

[Valnorran]

Also called Sunfish. It's a real cool fish. They lay flat on the surface sucking up jellyfish.

And yes I'm fairly sure getting near the whales is very illegal not to mention dangerus. A few years back a whale breched right next to a boat and landed on it. The piolot was killed. I'll have to see if I can find the pictures of the boat. The Coast Guard boys never heard of such a thing and thought the guys were lying about a boat to boat colition. But there was whale flesh on the boat. No worries for the whale it was seen with damage but seemed to be doing fine.
Okay, I've heard of sunfish. I don't know if we have them here in the Gulf of Mexico.

I can't confirm it, but I've heard of humpback whales accidentally killing people on occasion. People in these little Zodiac boats would get too close, the whale would dive, flip those 12 foot flukes and accidentally paddle the boaters into oblivion. Again, I can't confirm it, but it wouldn't suprise me. And while there is no record of a killer whale eating a person, they have been known to drown people from time to time. Perhaps they're just playing and don't realize we can't stay submerged as long as they can. There's always the potential for serious accidents when large, powerful animals are involved.

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

:lol: I thought the title said Sewing Basket sharks when I first read it...:hehehehe:

Very cool experience though.