First shark bite...

[bigscoop]

...happened yesterday afternoon, just as the tide was starting to come back in. Small shark with light colored fin and dorsal tips hit me just as I was raising my left foot off the bottom toward the scoop. Little guy came in with a small rush of water and grabbed hold of my big toe. Hurt like heck, but I was amazed at how fast it all happened. I saw everything clearly because I was looking right at the back of my scoop and could easily see it all. I'm guessing he was about 12 - 16 inches, hard to say when they're in the water because they look bigger then they really are. Place was full of small baitfish so I figure he thought my toe was a fat little mullet. Now I know why they call it the shark bite capital of the world. (This happened in the mid-afternoon daylight but no more surf hunting for me at night, or at dawn or dusk!)

 

[OBN]

Thank God he had No taste for BigScoops BigToe!

Video from my buddy Big Earl, fresh water shark?

 

[Hag730]

17 documented Shark fatalities in 2011........WORLDWIDE. 18 fatal dog attacks in the U.S alone in 2012 and its only July I would say your chances of being killed by a dog are much higher.

Unless of course you spend most of your time in the water...

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

I will take a dog over a shark any day.... 9 people bitten by sharks in Florida so far this year not counting big scoop..

 

[Hag730]

At least a dog you'll probably see it coming......and a lot of those deaths are most likely kids and the elderly. I have to admit, its always in the back of my mind here in South Georgia. The water is like Nestly Quick......you cant see sqwat. The area off the coast here is a breading ground for sharks.....luckily its mostly smaller and less aggressive breads, but they do catch bull sharks of the pier on St Simons Island.

 

[Hag730]

Geeeesh TH.......what do you do with that many detectors? Maybe you should give some of those away to less fortunate children like myself.

 

[Crispin]

Shark vs. dog...who is more lethal?

I think chances of death that close to shore are pretty slim. Assuming the worst, a shark bite in waist deep water, it still only takes 15 seconds to get your butt to dry land. If it is a big shark you could potentially lose a limb, but you can use the cord from your metal detector as a tourniquet. Again, chance of death probably significantly decreases based on proximity to safe land and EMS. Now, if you are on coumadin and you get bit in shallow water then you are going to have a hell of a time stopping the bleeding. anybody with an INR over 2.5 should definitely stick to dry sand.

Take a look at the dog bite. If you get attacked by a pit bull...where you going to run to? I seriously doubt you will be 15 seconds away from water that you can jump in for escape. Plus, pit bulls have a tendancy to go for the jugular. You can't use the cord on your metal detector as a tourniquet around your neck...very bad idea. In addition, if you suffer the dog bite and survive you still have to undergo months of rabies shots in the odd chance the dog was infected. The shark maybe carries vibrio cholera at the worst, potentially some uncomfortable e. coli, but not lethal. Same argument about being on blood thinners applies here as well, but its not like you can avoid walking down the street vs. avoiding the water.

This may sound crazy...but given the choice between being attacked by a shark in shallow water and a pit bull on dry land...I would take the shark. What do you think?
Ps. Please don't bring any type of protection into the discussion. I'm talking about hand to hand combat here. Once you start talking about weapons things can change dramatically either way.
PPs. Herb n Surf, if you get bit by a shark then I am definitely voting to change your name to Surf n Herb, charging fifty dollars a plate, and having gold rings around the napkins.

 

[Hag730]

I believe its a fact that in most shark bites......the shark bites a human by mistake and lets go once it realizes its not a fish. I doubt the pitbull or rottwieller is bitting you by mistake.....

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

Personally I will take a dog over a shark...Your using pit bull, so let's use great white which would you prefer to face?

As far as my detectors, I only have 5, I enjoy playing with detectors so I bought some and use them then sold them. I have 2 excals, 1 sov gt, 1 etrac and a Fisher 1235x the others I sold....

 

[JKPK1]

If I dare ask...what beach were you at?

PK

 

[herb n surf]

Saw a shadow today and thought shark , lol just a manatee.

 

[seeker41]

first and last i hope!! im out there all the time, mostly night and knee to waste deep. im constantly thinking about it but have not stoped yet!

 

[FloridaBill]

Well I have had a few close calls myself as Marty (Treasure Hunter) will tell you

 

[lookindown]

Shark vs. dog...who is more lethal?

I think chances of death that close to shore are pretty slim. Assuming the worst, a shark bite in waist deep water, it still only takes 15 seconds to get your butt to dry land. If it is a big shark you could potentially lose a limb, but you can use the cord from your metal detector as a tourniquet. Again, chance of death probably significantly decreases based on proximity to safe land and EMS. Now, if you are on coumadin and you get bit in shallow water then you are going to have a hell of a time stopping the bleeding. anybody with an INR over 2.5 should definitely stick to dry sand.

Take a look at the dog bite. If you get attacked by a pit bull...where you going to run to? I seriously doubt you will be 15 seconds away from water that you can jump in for escape. Plus, pit bulls have a tendancy to go for the jugular. You can't use the cord on your metal detector as a tourniquet around your neck...very bad idea. In addition, if you suffer the dog bite and survive you still have to undergo months of rabies shots in the odd chance the dog was infected. The shark maybe carries vibrio cholera at the worst, potentially some uncomfortable e. coli, but not lethal. Same argument about being on blood thinners applies here as well, but its not like you can avoid walking down the street vs. avoiding the water.

This may sound crazy...but given the choice between being attacked by a shark in shallow water and a pit bull on dry land...I would take the shark. What do you think?
Ps. Please don't bring any type of protection into the discussion. I'm talking about hand to hand combat here. Once you start talking about weapons things can change dramatically either way.
PPs. Herb n Surf, if you get bit by a shark then I am definitely voting to change your name to Surf n Herb, charging fifty dollars a plate, and having gold rings around the napkins.

Ill take the dog...didnt even have to think about it.

 

[Smoogle]

cool - not so long ago I was assaulted by an octopus - that will make great little scar with a story!

 

[Hag730]

What was her name?

 

[AC1955]

We, too, get shark sightings up here in the Northeast, usually 5 or 6 per summer. Don't know if I'd take either a dog or shark bite...I hate pain! However, if I had to choose, I guess it would be shark. I've owned a pit bull/lab mix and I saw first hand the damage she could inflict (blinded another dog over a toy). Now I own a 110 lb German Shepherd...I KNOW she would win against a shark. Anyone going to the "Jaws" screening tonight? (Just kidding.) Glad you weren't hurt worse, bigscoop! Take care and HH.

 

[bigscoop]

If I dare ask...what beach were you at?

PK

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