A fisherman in California had a harrowing experience on Monday morning when his kayak was reportedly struck by something suspected to be a shark, about a mile offshore near Leffingwell Landing in Cambria. This unexpected incident occurred around 9:30 a.m., causing the kayak to capsize and him to end up in the water, as detailed by the Cambria Fire Department on their Facebook page.
Initially, the fisherman managed to get back onto his kayak and started paddling towards the shore. However, the damage to his kayak resulted in it taking on water, which ultimately forced him to swim the rest of the way back to land.
Fortunately, he reached the shore without sustaining any injuries. After he got to safety, firefighters arrived and deployed a rescue boat to retrieve his damaged kayak, along with his fishing gear and personal items.
Dr. Chris Lowe from the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach, examined photographs of the kayak’s damage and indicated that it’s reasonable to suspect a shark was involved. Still, officials have pointed out that there is no definitive confirmation of a shark’s involvement just yet.
Interestingly, this area has a history of similar encounters. Back in May 2012, a shark collided with a fishing kayak near the same spot, tossing fisherman Joey Nocchi into the water, but he emerged unharmed, according to reports from that time. More recently, in 2019, another fisherman, David Zamora, experienced a comparable situation when a roughly 10-foot great white shark bit his kayak. He, too, was able to get back on his kayak and was later rescued by a boater, without injuries.
According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, there have been 233 recorded shark incidents since 1950, which includes 36 cases linked to kayaking or canoeing. These records take into account encounters that involve sharks making contact with kayaks or surfboards, whether or not anyone was injured.
Officials have suggested that some of these encounters with white sharks might involve exploratory bites. This occurs when the sharks are investigating unfamiliar objects in the water, like kayaks. It’s important to note that such behavior doesn’t necessarily mean the shark is trying to attack a person.
In light of this latest incident, the Cambria Fire Department is urging people using the ocean to stay cautious, keep an eye on their surroundings, and avoid entering the water when sharks are visibly active. They also advised that anyone feeling threatened or in an emergency should call 911.
