Shark Attack

 | By Capt Miles on 10/25/2012 8:39:20 AM | Views (491) After forty years of professional fishing you would think one would tire of it. But for some reason I still can't sleep past 5 a.m. even when I want too and I feel out of place when I'm not heading out for a day of fishing. I have always felt more at home surrounded by God's creation than man's, not sure if it's the spectacular sunrise he paints or the sights- such as a bald eagle sitting on an oyster bank enjoying a fish breakfast, dolphin's coming up beside the boat for a good morning salute…..I could go on and on. Some things are predictable but nature never fails to provide something new, something yet unseen after all that time.

The air was early fall cool the morning Jace Spencer and his boys boarded the Bayrunner for some big bull red fishing and bristled in a way hard to describe, a way that usually foretold of a seasonal explosion of life. Calibogue sound was flat calm, like a mirror as we pulled up to the Daufuskie beach in search of menhaden. They kept their appointment and with a few throws of the net we had "livey's" in the well and a bucket full of "chunkers".

Pointingt the bow towards the mouth of the sound we skimmed the mirror like surface. Minutes later, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a shower of fish leaping from the water. I turned hard to starboard and we watched as a school of mullet continued to burst from the water in unison.

It soon became obvious that several dolphin and at least one shark were playing havoc on the hapless mullet.

The dolphin were circling the school picking them off and twice we saw a large shark skyrocket through the middle of the school. As we neared the school they remained on top instead of sounding like they normally would….I decided some fresh mullet wouldn't hurt our bait arsenal at all. I grabbed the net and loaded it as Jace circled back to the school. As the bow neared the school you could almost see the confusion in the mullet's eyes, they wanted to sound but wouldn't, I took advantage of their dilemma and let the net sail.

As the net sank the forward motion of the boat took the net towards the stern, I turned towards Jace and the boys announcing that we had definitely secured some mullet….and that's when it happened.

I estimate the shark at around 6-7 ft. and 100 lbs and he was airborne right off the stern of the Bayrunner! He launched like a missile eight feet out of the water and landed on the t-top, making it shudder, rolled off the rods in the holder of the top, bounced off the engine and back into the water!

The sobering thought of what would have happened if a hundred pounds of muscle and teeth had landed in boat broke the trance of awe and we promptly headed for the fishing hole. Jace and the boys went eight for eight on the bull redfish which would weigh between 27 and 35 lbs. The picture of Capt Mike, a co-captain of the Bayrunner ,and the shark I chose for this month is to give you an idea of the size of the shark. Never had that happen in forty years and to be honest, as spectacular as it was, I would prefer to see them jumping...... a little farther from the boat in the future!
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Catch Information

Species:
Mahi-mahi


Red Drum

This Fishing Report was submitted on 10/25/2012 8:39:20 AM by Capt Miles and last updated on 10/25/2012 8:39:20 AM.

Location

Shelter Cove Marina
Hilton Head, SC US

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