Do We Worry About Sharks Too Much (or Not Enough)?

[MainelySmallies]

As the title implies, do you think we (we being surfcasters) worry about sharks too much, or not enough? I know the shark thing has come up in a few other threads, but I guess what I’m interested in is our fear of being attacked versus the actual statistical likelihood. I got into a friendly argument the other day with a fisherman who was making the case that it’s irresponsible and “unfair to your loved ones” to swim or wade at night in places where sharks are known to be around. I disagreed because the statistical risk seems so minimal, but I guess I’m curious what others think?

 

There are a few places I want to fish in Maine and Mass that would involve swims or deep wading in areas that Great Whites are occasionally known to hang about. To be clear, I’m not talking about whites in huge numbers like on the cape, but the sharks are there. On the one hand, I see the point that it seems intuitively f***ing stupid to swim in areas that sometimes hold great whites. On the other hand, there were only 5 fatal shark attacks worldwide in 2022, 9 in 2021, and 10 in 2020. So it seems like in any given year there are less than fifteen fatal shark attacks in the entire world. By contrast, lightning strikes (which we often use an example of an exceedingly rare event) kill between 20 - 40 people in America alone in any given year. 

 

What I’m getting at is, on the one hand, it seems like common sense that swimming/deep wading in sharks areas at night is risky. I understand that point of view. On the other hand, the actual statistical risk seems very, very low. Even when you consider that surfcasters are probably exponentially more likely to have a shark encounter (given that the average person in the world doesn’t spend four or five nights a week in the water in the dark for hours at a time). Still, even considering that we are at greater risk, the risk still seems super small. Shouldn’t we be more worried about driving around sleep deprived at night than we should be about a shark mistaking a wetsuiter for a seal? 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 6 by MainelySmallies

[Googs]

Your choosing to play on a playground that wasn't built for you to play in, yet we all do. You are at the mercy of mother nature when you enter the ocean. The odds are low but there is always a chance of something bad happening. I'm way more concerned by tides and current than a shark biting me while being in the water. I routinely fish with someone who lets his anxiety get the best of him at times, usually around 2am. I used to engage him, now I just take my phone out and play the jaws theme song. He is on this forum and I hope he chimes in, lol 

Edited February 6 by Googs

[wrboz]

Agree 100%. We are choosing to play in someone else’s yard. We, as humans, need to realize that we are only a part of nature. We can’t, nor should we, seek to control it.

Edited February 6 by wrboz
Punctuation

[joem]

One of those 10 deaths in 2020 was in Maine. She was apparently swimming near seals.

 

So sure, keep some coffee in the car for your trip back home at the end of a long night, it’s the responsible thing to do. Reducing your shark risk by not swimming in sharky areas seems responsible too, but it’s no skin off my back.

[Pickerel92]

We definitely up our odds with what we do. So it’s not something to ignore, proceed with great caution.

 

One thing to consider is that there are very few surfcasters left that swim out front north of cape cod. Besides me and my buddy, I’ve only seen a couple other guys that swim out in the past 3 years. Even then, they aren’t swimming very far. I believe that there is a much greater risk north of cape cod than most other areas on the striper coast.

 

So I don’t think we can quantify what our actual individual risk is, there are just so few that do it. I bet it’s higher than we want it to be. But there are ways to minimize our risk:

 

- the longest swim I make is about 110 yards. This is in an area where GWs have been spotted. I’m re-evaluating the need to swim here. It sucks. But I feel like it may no longer be worth the risk even if it means giving up multiple 30+ pounders each year.

 

- Do not swim if seals are around. If they show up, get the hell out of there ASAP. I got sealed a couple years ago, I got outta there immediately. Seals smell like ass. If you get a whiff of them, don’t wait for a visual. 

 

- NEVER swim in seal haul-out areas. These are areas where a pod of seals will often hang out on rocks/land.

 

- get on a rock. Deep-wading on a bar north of cape cod is a generally bad idea. I heard a story which I will not share because I’m not sure its 100% authentic, but it resulted in a picture of a torn up surf top. At a minimum, your odds are increased because you are in the water for the entire time rather than a short swim.

 

- if you must swim, don’t flail and splash around like a panicking snack.

 

- minimize swim time and depth. Not sure how much this helps but it’s probably better to swim in 8ft opposed to 15ft. However, we know that sharks come closer to shore at night. So this might not even matter. 
 

- probably wouldn’t stay in the water if you are bleeding.

 

- probably safer swimming in May and June than it is July-September. Late August/September personally gives me those most heebie-jeebies. but I still wouldn’t let my guard down even if it’s early or late in the season.

 

That’s about all I can think of. Good luck out there.

[MainelySmallies]

2 mins ago, Pickerel92 said:

We definitely up our odds with what we do. So it’s not something to ignore, proceed with great caution.

 

One thing to consider is that there are very few surfcasters left that swim out front north of cape cod. Besides me and my buddy, I’ve only seen a couple other guys that swim out in the past 3 years. Even then, they aren’t swimming very far. I believe that there is a much greater risk north of cape cod than most other areas on the striper coast.

 

So I don’t think we can quantify what our actual individual risk is, there are just so few that do it. I bet it’s higher than we want it to be. But there are ways to minimize our risk:

 

- the longest swim I make is about 110 yards. This is in an area where GWs have been spotted. I’m re-evaluating the need to swim here. It sucks. But I feel like it may no longer be worth the risk even if it means giving up multiple 30+ pounders each year.

 

- Do not swim if seals are around. If they show up, get the hell out of there ASAP. I got sealed a couple years ago, I got outta there immediately. Seals smell like ass. If you get a whiff of them, don’t wait for a visual. 

 

- NEVER swim in seal haul-out areas. These are areas where a pod of seals will often hang out on rocks/land.

 

- get on a rock. Deep-wading on a bar north of cape cod is a generally bad idea. I heard a story which I will not share because I’m not sure its 100% authentic, but it resulted in a picture of a torn up surf top. At a minimum, your odds are increased because you are in the water for the entire time rather than a short swim.

 

- if you must swim, don’t flail and splash around like a panicking snack.

 

- minimize swim time and depth. Not sure how much this helps but it’s probably better to swim in 8ft opposed to 15ft. However, we know that sharks come closer to shore at night. So this might not even matter. 
 

- probably wouldn’t stay in the water if you are bleeding.

 

- probably safer swimming in May and June than it is July-September. Late August/September personally gives me those most heebie-jeebies. but I still wouldn’t let my guard down even if it’s early or late in the season.

 

That’s about all I can think of. Good luck out there.

Really informative and interesting take, thanks! I definitely would not have the stones to swim 110 yards in the Cape haha. You’re a braver man than me. Most of the places I swam this year required short swims except for one that’s longer. It’s that longer one that gives me a little pause as it is a spot where I have seen a few isolated seals at night and I know whites have been tracked. But it’s definitely not a seal haul-out.  All the places where I’m swimming to are spots where I am then out of the water or in knee deep water. 

 

I do do a fair amount of swimming or deep wading when I’m in RI (I have family there and am in and out throughout the summer) but for whatever reason RI feels less sharky haha so I don’t think about it much. 

[Bubbaluch]

I am never scared of sharks when simply swimming or traversing into a new spot.... however, from wade fishing long enough across all of Florida. I have had easily 10+ sharks that were greater than at least 4 feet rub my legs while fighting a fish at my feet.  I have had them grab the fish within an arm lengths of reaching them (2 feet away) multiple times. 

 

I have never had to use the technique yet, but i've prepared myself mentally if ever needed to use the "butt" of my rod and to aim for there Eyes/Nose. 

 

Lastly, I am not scared of the shark attack itself, but I do have caution because simply if I were to ever be "bit" I pray that it was not in the location of a major artery. Most of the shark attacks deaths are from bleeding out rapidly and not the shark "eating/killing" you. 

 

 

 

[FalmouthFisher]

2 hours ago, MainelySmallies said:

Really informative and interesting take, thanks! I definitely would not have the stones to swim 110 yards in the Cape haha. You’re a braver man than me.

My thoughts exactly!

 

Also wanted to chime in on the lightning strike comparison.  While fatal shark attacks are less of a risk for the average person, a surf fisherman swimming in great white infested waters at night is far from the average person.  Odds are still extremely low, but probably high enough to take into serious consideration.  

[TLap21]

Not worth worrying about, imo. 

[poopdeck]

I don’t go in saltwater because I have an unrealistic view of how filthy it is. Up to my rubber covered knees is more than deep enough for me. With all the flesh eating bacteria, parasites and man of wars out there I’m not taking any chances of that filthy water splashing into my mouth, eyes, ears or nose. I could care less about sharks and honestly don’t give them a moments thought. 

Edited February 6 by poopdeck

[Bubbaluch]

4 mins ago, poopdeck said:

I don’t go in saltwater because I have an unrealistic view of how filthy it is. Up to my rubber covered knees is more than deep enough for me. With all the flesh eating bacteria, parasites and man of wars out there I’m not taking any chances of that filthy water splashing into my mouth, eyes, ears or nose. I could care less about sharks and honestly don’t give them a moments thought. 

This is a bad take unless your wading in the canals of Miami with all the **** in the water. 

 

Never have I seen a man of war in the surf or bay. If I wanted something to be worried about, it be moreso of stepping on a ray or getting a jelly fish to the leg. 

 

[aneary]

While living in CT, I would wade and belly boat, at night, in Long Island, without much concern for sharks. 
 

while living in Florida, the last 5 years, my exposure to sharks has been substantial. I would not deep wade at night in FL, way too many sharks for my liking. They’ve come right by me and taken fish I’ve hooked during the day, so no wading for me at night down here.

[EliasA]

While wading and swimming at nigh rocks, currents, waves and the cold are far more likely to kill you than sharks

[Joe Paranee]

Spear fisherman have a lot more to worry about than surf fisherman 

 

 

[poopdeck]

3 hours ago, Bubbaluch said:

This is a bad take unless your wading in the canals of Miami with all the **** in the water. 

 

Never have I seen a man of war in the surf or bay. If I wanted something to be worried about, it be moreso of stepping on a ray or getting a jelly fish to the leg. 

 

I did say it was an unrealistic view but it happens to be what freaks me out. Jelly fish and man of wars are the same thing to me.