Northern Cali. surfer hit by shark! Safe travel destination this time of year?? Or not??

Jun 1, 2004
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Ending south swell and the start of winter swells can make waves have a peaky element around the Northern Cali. beachbreaks, but watch for the sharks on patrol during this time of year...

"Surfer attacked by shark in Northern California; beaches closed
Sunday, October 10, 2004"

(10-10) 19:53 PDT POINT REYES STATION, Calif. (AP) --

A surfer was bitten by a shark off the Northern California coast Sunday, prompting park officials to close beaches near the site of the attack, authorities said.

The shark bit the leg of the unidentified surfer just off Limantour Beach, about 50 miles north of San Francisco, according to park officials at Point Reyes National Seashore.

The man told authorities the shark, which was between six and eight feet long, released his leg after he hit it on the head. The surfer then paddled to shore on his own, park officials said.

The surfer was taken by helicopter to a Santa Rosa hospital for treatment of injuries to his lower leg.

The shark was believed to be a great white.

Park officials closed the waters off Limantour Beach and adjoining Drakes Beach for five days. The beaches will be reopened if no more shark sightings are reported.

Sightings of great white sharks are common near Point Reyes in the fall when seal lions, elephant seals and harbor seals visit the area. The last shark attack along the national seashore occurred in 1996.

For more info go to: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/news/archive/2004/10/10/national2253EDT0620.DTL
 

blakestah

Phil Edwards status
Sep 10, 2002
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No, stay away, Northern California is one big shark feast.

I bet the surfer wouldn't even tell the authorities where he was surfing <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
 

Reality Check

Phil Edwards status
Feb 7, 2002
6,260
-1
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Nor Cal
..your probably right Blakestah I have some photographic evidence of how good it was very nearby that day...even worth risking the shark factor of that zone <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/socrazy.gif" alt="" />
 

burnsey_vi

Michael Peterson status
Jul 24, 2003
2,148
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Shell Beach, Ca.
No, stay away, Northern California is one big shark feast.

I bet the surfer wouldn't even tell the authorities where he was surfing <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />
Yup...and besides...if your surfing Point Reyes sharks are the last of your worries...that wave WILL punish you big time...
 

blakestah

Phil Edwards status
Sep 10, 2002
6,139
0
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No, stay away, Northern California is one big shark feast.

I bet the surfer wouldn't even tell the authorities where he was surfing
Yup...and besides...if your surfing Point Reyes sharks are the last of your worries...that wave WILL punish you big time...
He wasn't surfing NW facing Pt Reyes, he was between Limantour and Drakes. I talked with some of the Med Evac chopper guys - apparently it was going off.
 

LeeD

Rabbitt Bartholomew status
Jun 26, 2003
8,203
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Berkeley,CA
<img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
Tell the locals that!
I lived in Inverness for two years, bud down the street was one of the first to surf Ft.Point, Deadmans, and Eagles, living on a house overlooking SeaCliff. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />