Avoiding A Shark Bite While Wading
The media frenzy over shark attacks on the Carolina coast this summer has many scared to go near the ocean. And while sharks deserve respect, you are much more likely to be in a car wreck going to the beach than you are to be bitten by a shark once you get there.
With that said, it makes sense to decrease the already slim odds of a shark attack. The following are a few common-sense precautions for anglers wading to fish the shallows or the surf.
Do not enter the water if you are bleeding. Do not wear shiny jewelry that predators might mistake for flashing baitfish. Do not to wear bright colors with a lot of contrast. There’s a reason lure makers’ creations contain loud colors and flash. It’s to attract the attention of predators.
And on the subject of attracting predators, don’t trail bleeding fish behind you on a stringer. This may seem ridiculously obvious, but to those new to saltwater it might not be so readily apparent.
Swimmers are warned to avoid feeding times and areas. Sharks, like most predators, prefer to hunt in low-light conditions at dusk or dawn. They frequent areas where baitfish are present, where anglers are cleaning their catch or where human waste enters the water. They also hunt along sandbars and drop offs.
These are times and places for swimmers to avoid. They are also the best conditions to fish. Fish where the fish are, but use common sense. Get out of the water if sharks show up.
When wading, the deeper you are the tougher it will be to defend yourself. If flats fishing, keep the boat nearby. If you’re fishing from the surf, wade out to get your cast where it needs to be, but return to the beach while awaiting a bite.
Most anglers have spent enough time around the water to realize the likelihood of a shark attack is small. But by the nature of the sport—and on purpose—anglers increase the probability of run-ins with sharks. Try not to become complacent. And for Pete’s sake, be careful extracting a hook from a shark’s mouth.