bidkev
24-04-2004, 09:09 AM
http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,9364428%255E13762,00.html
5m shark jumps onto boat
From correspondents in Wellington, New Zealand
April 23, 2004
A 5 1/2-metre Great White shark terrified three anglers when it lunged
from the water and sank its teeth into the side of their small fishing
boat, the skipper said.
Gary Dodunski said the shark, which was bigger than his boat, charged as
fishing mate Shane Goble tried to land a fish he had on his line off the
city of New Plymouth on North Island's west coast.
Said Goble: "When I tried to lift my fish aboard, the shark launched
itself out of the water and onto the side of the boat."
The force of the striking shark pushed the vessel 2m sideways when it
hit, Dodunski told National Radio.
His daughter, Michelle Dodunski, said the shark was within centimetres
of her face as it grabbed the 5m boat in its jaws.
"It rolled its eye back and sat there for a while, and then splashed
back into the water," she said.
"It scared the hell out of me - I was shaking like a leaf," she added.
The boat, Live'N Hope, has deep scratches on its side from the shark's
lower teeth.
Gary Dodunski said the trio first spotted "this big fin" circling their
boat as they fished. The predator would occasionally "stop and look at
us", he said.
The attack began as he tried to land a fish, "but the shark just
accelerated in and ate it," Goble said. "Then it grabbed Michelle's
fish, but spat it out."
A shaken skipper said the trio jerked at the anchor rope, started the
motor and raced away from the fishing spot.
The attack hasn't put them off fishing though his daughter "will
probably turn (fishing trip offers) down for a while - she eyeballed the
fellow", he said.
It is the second attack involving a Great White shark off New Plymouth
in recent weeks. Earlier, one of the sharks tore a seal to pieces in
front of a boatload of tourists who were on a sightseeing trip at a
nearby marine reserve.
Experts say it is highly likely both incidents involved the same shark,
which are known to be territorial.
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research principal scientist
Dr. Malcolm Francis said it was likely the shark would stay in the
area's waters.
"They can become residential for months at a time, particularly if there
is a seal colony in the area," he said.
New Plymouth is a regional city 355km north of the capital, Wellington.
The Associated Press
5m shark jumps onto boat
From correspondents in Wellington, New Zealand
April 23, 2004
A 5 1/2-metre Great White shark terrified three anglers when it lunged
from the water and sank its teeth into the side of their small fishing
boat, the skipper said.
Gary Dodunski said the shark, which was bigger than his boat, charged as
fishing mate Shane Goble tried to land a fish he had on his line off the
city of New Plymouth on North Island's west coast.
Said Goble: "When I tried to lift my fish aboard, the shark launched
itself out of the water and onto the side of the boat."
The force of the striking shark pushed the vessel 2m sideways when it
hit, Dodunski told National Radio.
His daughter, Michelle Dodunski, said the shark was within centimetres
of her face as it grabbed the 5m boat in its jaws.
"It rolled its eye back and sat there for a while, and then splashed
back into the water," she said.
"It scared the hell out of me - I was shaking like a leaf," she added.
The boat, Live'N Hope, has deep scratches on its side from the shark's
lower teeth.
Gary Dodunski said the trio first spotted "this big fin" circling their
boat as they fished. The predator would occasionally "stop and look at
us", he said.
The attack began as he tried to land a fish, "but the shark just
accelerated in and ate it," Goble said. "Then it grabbed Michelle's
fish, but spat it out."
A shaken skipper said the trio jerked at the anchor rope, started the
motor and raced away from the fishing spot.
The attack hasn't put them off fishing though his daughter "will
probably turn (fishing trip offers) down for a while - she eyeballed the
fellow", he said.
It is the second attack involving a Great White shark off New Plymouth
in recent weeks. Earlier, one of the sharks tore a seal to pieces in
front of a boatload of tourists who were on a sightseeing trip at a
nearby marine reserve.
Experts say it is highly likely both incidents involved the same shark,
which are known to be territorial.
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research principal scientist
Dr. Malcolm Francis said it was likely the shark would stay in the
area's waters.
"They can become residential for months at a time, particularly if there
is a seal colony in the area," he said.
New Plymouth is a regional city 355km north of the capital, Wellington.
The Associated Press