CHINK IN THE
FOOD CHAIN? Kayak fishing in shark-infested waters puts a chink in the food chain. When a big shark decides to make you his next meal, there’s nothing to do but pray to God and paddle like hell. Still, very few kayak anglers have run-ins with sharks and almost none have been attacked. Former kayak fishing guide, Shane Edgar’s encounter with a hungry hammerhead suggests that kayak anglers are not on the menu. However, his story reinforces the need for caution, respect and prepara- tion when entering the shark’s world:
W
e went out with low expectations and ended up hooking a monster tarpon. Hours into the battle, I
happened to look into the water behind me to see a 12- foot great hammerhead disappear under my kayak. The fish was heading for my client Ben’s tarpon. I shouted several times for Ben to cut the line. When Ben saw the hammerhead coming straight for his fish, he searched frantically for a knife. Eventually, he was able to use his paddle blade to break the line. The tarpon saw the shark too. Even though the silver
fish was free, it tried to play possum under Ben’s kayak. Meanwhile, the shark turned its attention toward me, do- ing a series of figure eights and bumping my kayak with its two-foot dorsal. That’s when I decided it was time to leave. I screamed
for Ben to get moving, as I paddled frantically, my lip quivering, near tears and praying to God to keep me safe and make it all go away. Then I heard Ben yell, “Stop paddling, he’s following
you!” I looked back and saw the dorsal fin slicing through the water like a scene from Jaws. In a high-pitched voice, I screamed, “I can’t stop paddling!” Even though I couldn’t out run the fish in my kayak, I wasn’t going to sit there and be a victim. All I could do was paddle and pray. Each time I looked back, the fish was following me. It
tracked me for 25 or 30 yards before the fin disappeared into the water and we didn’t see the shark again. I thank God that I am alive. The up close and personal
encounter was scary. The huge shark could have easily bumped my kayak and knocked me into the water resulting in pure carnage. It was like a nightmare that wouldn’t end. I won’t be going near any tarpon any time soon, you
better believe that. Now, I have a great respect for sharks, and I have a new perspective on life. —Shane Edgar
SHARK VS. TARPON. PHOTO: SAM ROOT
BUDDY SYSTEM: FISHING WITH A FRIEND IS EASIER AND SAFER. PHOTO JOSE CHAVEZ
36 …KAYAK ANGLER SUMMER/FALL 2012
SHARK HUNT! TURN THE TABLES ON AN APEX PREDATOR
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