Wading and Sharks, Myths busted!!

I just don't wade as much as I used to. Too much time in the Navy, with a LOT of time actually in the water seeing what's out there. I spent a lot of money for a perfectly good boat with a perfectly good trolling motor and power pole. I'm not "afraid," but I sure do respect the wildlife, especially when the water isn't crystal clear.

Stomp your feet when you see them. That usually works for me when I'm at ship

I've seen what lives in the gulf
.... I'll just stay in the boat [cool]

flounderpounder said:

Stomp your feet when you see them. That usually works for me when I'm at ship

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This. But make sure they are not pointed straight at ya when ya do it.

The ones you see are not really the problem...chest deep water and the one coming up behind you...do you hear the jaws theme song...[biggrin]

shooterchief said:

I just don't wade as much as I used to. Too much time in the Navy, with a LOT of time actually in the water seeing what's out there. I spent a lot of money for a perfectly good boat with a perfectly good trolling motor and power pole. I'm not "afraid," but I sure do respect the wildlife, especially when the water isn't crystal clear.

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^^^this!!!!

There's nothing better than a good wade, but last year I lost my nerve. Lost 4 stringers to sharks during a three day trip to chandy. They were so bad we couldn't even fish, we were just fighting sharks the whole time. And one day at horn I was in some stained water that was full of big trout and I needed 3 more to get my limit. About that time I looked down and had the biggest shark I have ever seen about 2 ft in front of me coming right at my belly button. Not sure what kind it was, but it was thick and at least 8 ft long. He veered to the side and brushed my hip as he passed by, them swam 6 inches from my 12 trout and never looked back. I was paralyzed with fear, mostly that a shark that big got that close to me before I saw him.

I haven't been wet since my incident last year. I can live without wading at my age.

time2hunt said:

I've seen what lives in the gulf
.... I'll just stay in the boat [cool]

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Amen!

Haven't had an issue with them at all so far this year, knock on wood. Saw a 5-6 footer cruise by last weekend at cat but he wasn't interested in us at all just kept on cruising. It's a little hairy when they get aggressive like that but the couple times we have seen them this year we take our baskets and empty them at the boat.

I prefer to wade, I know it is the quietest way to get on the big trout, but with a remote and a power pole not sure I am getting out of the boat after the last two years with the sharks during summer. Drift 50 feet and mash the button, fish it thoroughly and mash the button again to pick it up, and repeat until you find them. that's my new method.

Winter time I will be in the water but from March to September, no thanks.

Be safe

Something I might start doing if they get bad like last year is carry my spear gaff. Made it for kayak fishing offshore. It's a shovel handle with a sharpened piece of all thread, similar to a flounder gig. Would definitely do more to deter a shark with a poke than a fishing rod.

I'd give certain body parts for a very fresh 4' blacktip. They make the best grilled shark bites you ever put in your mouth.

First time reading about the shark eating my basket, haven't been on the forum much lately. I will say this was bigger than a skinny little 4 footer. It was big enough to put the fear in me for sure.

So everyone knows, there were no gut hooked or bleeding fish in my basket. They were all lively nice trout. I never saw or heard the shark coming until it was on the basket. The second attack was in knee deep water, crystal clear. The only indication I had that something was about to happen was the fish splashing just before it got to them.

shooter33 said:

First time reading about the shark eating my basket, haven't been on the forum much lately. I will say this was bigger than a skinny little 4 footer. It was big enough to put the fear in me for sure.

So everyone knows, there were no gut hooked or bleeding fish in my basket. They were all lively nice trout. I never saw or heard the shark coming until it was on the basket. The second attack was in knee deep water, crystal clear. The only indication I had that something was about to happen was the fish splashing just before it got to them.

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I think confining trout in a basket or live well can cause them to put out a scent that attracts sharks. Whether they excrete a chemical because they're stressed or a concentration of fish in a small area just produces more scent I do not know. I once made trip with a friend, the object of which was to put a tarpon in the boat. we only carried a couple of 12 weight fly rods and a couple of fun rods for ladyfish. We didn't bring any ice. when the tarpon didn't show up that day we ended up sight fishing for trout at ship and had about 6 in my live well. Two 5 foot bull sharks started following the boat and one even got worked up enough to hit a fly. I think the over flow from the live well chummed those sharks up.

Just reading these stories make my heart race! I used to swim around comfort island when I got got but got spooked one day and can't make myself get in now!

I always loved wading and I truly believe each to their own but I just can't justify doing it any more for myself personally. I know the odds are in our favor but that doesn't mean much if you are the one in how ever many. It's going to happen in MS waters though it is inevitable.