So, You Want To Be A Water Hunter?

[bigscoop]

Here you go. This is my water hunting domain, New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Shark bite capital of the world. Enjoy and come on down!
Video shows sharks surrounding swimmers off New Smyrna Beach | News - Home

 

[FindSomeGold]

I've done some water hunting (I live in NSB too) here and even lost my own wedding ring (never found it... boo... $600 gone) just inside of where this video was filmed, haha.

 

[gamiller]

in the interview the gentleman states it unusual to see that many sharks, even one. That has not been my experience at nsb, my understanding is that beach is well known for shark encounters. I myself saw them swimming amongst swimmers at 17th street entrance (not sure of street number).
Do you think any of shark repellant sprays are worth having?

 

[FindSomeGold]

I surf there too (normally further south though) and have seen plenty of sharks, but not this many at once.

 

[gamiller]

I surf there too (normally further south though) and have seen plenty of sharks, but not this many at once.

I was surprised at the difference of the surf action at Bethune park compared to
Just a mile or so further north.

 

[Hangman]

You have shark's, I have bear's running around, Florida is so much fun LOL.

 

[bigscoop]

On this day the water was flat with fair visibility, which isn't very common here inside the sandbars. Add to this that the baitfish are moving back into the shoreline. But those sharks are generally always there, either further out or hidden by the usually tainted water clarity. At low tide it's not uncommon to see one cruising the top of a sandbar, his back out of the water while searching for food. I saw about 4-5 foot hammerhead doing this very thing about a week ago on top of the bar above the trough I was hunting, this was just south of Crawford street. That same week I saw another doing the same thing down by the Islander. So they are always around it's just that we can see them all that easily very often. A couple of years ago I nailed on the big toe by a small shark that came darting into the tidal pool I was hunting as the tide was returning. He nailed me just as my foot was being placed on top of that shiny SS scoop under a bright sun. Saw him coming all the way, just never thought he'd actually nail me.

 

[FindSomeGold]

I was surprised at the difference of the surf action at Bethune park compared to
Just a mile or so further north.

Bethune can for sure hold a lot larger surf than most spots north in our area.
If a good hurricane swell comes through you'll see it get especially crowded with surfers.

That beach can get really steep too and I've seen some nice cuts there at times.
Unfortunately they rebuilt the ramp / steps a while back and there are tons of nails that drive my PI crazy.

 

[bigscoop]

I was surprised at the difference of the surf action at Bethune park compared to
Just a mile or so further north.

It's really quite amazing, say examining the beach from the inlet to the Cape. There is quite a bit of change. I've metal detected all of it quite a bit in recent years.

 

[DnD]

You have shark's, I have bear's running around, Florida is so much fun LOL.

LOL, our neighbor just had a black bear break into his lanai....and we're in a big sub in St. Aug'

 

[DewGuru]

Having run fishing charters for umpteen years ... Customers would hire us to go shark fishing. We'd come out the pass, park right off the beach. Customers would say, I thought we were going shark fishing (thinking they were going miles and miles offshore). Inevitably, we told them yes, we are, this is where they live. Shortly after, their bent over the boat pulling in tigers, bulls, blacktips, hammers, nurse, spinners, and a wide array of others. Make no mistake - we're not alone. Makes no difference if it's day or night ... Sharks are present, their ever feeding. Be vigilant, not keep dead fish hanging off you, or bait on your pocket, and you'll be fine.

 

[ColonelDan]

True! But I've lived pretty much all over the world at one time or another and wouldn't want to live anywhere else but where I do. Central Florida is my home and I'm happy to share it with sharks, alligators, bears, rattlesnakes, beautiful beaches, beautiful history, beautiful birds, beautiful plants, beautiful weather year round, a beautiful family and great friends.....just the view from my biased foxhole.

 

[sponge]

True! But I've lived pretty all over the world at one time or another and wouldn't want to live anywhere else but where I do. Central Florida is my home and I'm happy to share it with sharks, alligators, bears, rattlesnakes, beautiful beaches, beautiful history, beautiful birds, beautiful plants, beautiful weather year round, a beautiful family and great friends.....just the view from my biased foxhole.

Florida rocks

 

[fongu]

They should say sharks on the sign. Dangerous marine life might be a crowd of drunken jar heads. lol Glad nobody got hurt.
I remember this guy caught a small shark on an oil rig I was working on cut open it's belly and little baby sharks fell into the water thru the metal grate on the walk way. I saw lots of large sharks and gators working in Louisiana. Seen a few caught at the pier in PCB, Fl. If I ever make it to Florida again, I'll get Bigscoop to keep an eye on the sharks while I scarf up all the gold jewelry. lol

 

[Fletch88]

Do you think they could mistake white hair legs for a baitfish? Lol. I'm thinking I may be a wetsand hunter from here on out!!!

 

[bigscoop]

Do you think they could mistake white hair legs for a baitfish? Lol. I'm thinking I may be a wetsand hunter from here on out!!!

Don't know but I've had schools of those pesky little fish pecking away at the hair on my legs more then once. Had bluegills in freshwater lakes do this same thing.
On second thought, hair draws baitfish, baitfish draw, well, we'll just say bigger fish.

 

[bigscoop]

They should say sharks on the sign. Dangerous marine life might be a crowd of drunken jar heads. lol Glad nobody got hurt.
I remember this guy caught a small shark on an oil rig I was working on cut open it's belly and little baby sharks fell into the water thru the metal grate on the walk way. I saw lots of large sharks and gators working in Louisiana. Seen a few caught at the pier in PCB, Fl. If I ever make it to Florida again, I'll get Bigscoop to keep an eye on the sharks while I scarf up all the gold jewelry. lol

"Dangerous Marine Life"....I don't get the mentality of those folks. Depending on what type of dangerous marine life pretty much determines the right level of caution required. Why not just say, god forbid, "Sharks". I mean, there is a fortune to be made if they'd just let their fears subside and market what they have here. Those sharks are not going away so why not capitalize on it. "Come to Sharkcoast where we have a wide variety of shark sandwiches so you can actually bite back."