S H A R K sightings

Yes, they are out there! I've had two experiences with larger sharks there--at least, large enough for me. The first was several years ago when windsurfing from the Gulf back into the pass next to Caladesi Island. It was a really windy day and I had gone out on an old flat board. It was overpowered by the wind, and I had been catapulted more times than I cared already that day. Anyway, as I came into the pass and looked ahead, I saw a large shape in the water and thought, "Wow, I wonder what that is?!" My next thought, as I got a tad closer, was, "It's a shark!" It was, in retrospect, a funny incident. He (or she?) was about 5 ft long and passed DIRECTLY under my board as we were going opposite directions--he/she out to the Gulf, and me into the bay. Boy, did I ever balance carefully at that moment! And as I was sailing back to the causeway and fell a couple of times more, I can truthfully say that I was back on the board before getting wet! (Sailing over a shark on a windsurfer will do that to you...)

The second sighting--and a bit more bothersome--was just last month. I was sailing from the causeway to Caledesi Island on my Laser Zuma monohull w/ my children aboard and saw a large, brown fin cutting the water about 50 feet away. (I've seen lots of dolphins, of course, and this certainly wasn't one.) At any rate, I played it cool and didn't spook my kids, etc. I did tell them about it when we got home, however, and we did a little research on the matter. Turns out that tiger sharks have brown fins, and they happen to have the most deserved reputation for being not only man-biters but man-eaters. (!) They also grow to 21 ft... (Not saying this one was, but it was pretty large.)

Anyway, as I said at the start, they ARE out there, but you can't worry too much about it since their presence there isn't a new thing. Just be careful, and don't dangle any arms or legs in the water!!!

By the way, I've had a shark come to the surface within 10 feet of my old Sea Snark years ago in Clearwater Bay, and I've also seen several smaller, harmless sharks in the area (around 2 feet or so). Again, apparently they're a fact of life on the water.

Simple solution:

Get your boards to hum, and that will scare off any sea life around.

Simple but bad.

It slows you down and then they eat you

Easyest way to not get eaten dont sail. Like who would stop sailing just because they saw a shark?

not the best thing to see while going up a wave on a surf board. Well they do say if they attack punch the shark on the nose. Well without getting your arm eaten first.