Sounds Like Fun

[bidkev]

http://www.news.com.au/common/story_...E13762,00.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

[basserman]

bloody kiwis they should of just let the shark have the fish insted of pulling it into the boat as the shar was trying to get it
but bugger pulling the anchor up i would of just cut it free

[el_carpo]

Sharks, crocodiles, poisonous everythings, I swear I have no idea how you Aussies get up enough courage to leave your homes. The most dangerous thing I face from the animal kingdom here in Chicago is a foul-tempered squirrel, an angry dog, or a sharp shooting pigeon. Of course, if you count humans in the animal kingdom, I quickly gain ground on you. I was first shot at, at the age of six In a car with my family coming home from grandma's house--white guy in the wrong neighborhood at the wrong time of day. Ah well. They missed. We lived, life goes on.

Kingtin,

I've got to ask you. What kind of fish is that in your avatar picture? I've never seen anything like that before. Looks kind of creepy.

Be careful fellas. Keep clear of those sharks. I don't want to hear of any of you guys getting whacked by one of those beasties!

[bidkev]

bloody kiwis they should of just let the shark have the fish insted of pulling it into the boat as the shar was trying to get it
but bugger pulling the anchor up i would of just cut it free

Have the fish!? Bugger that! Let it have the Kiwis........although <thinks>contrary to popular belief, sharks *won't* eat anything and can be fussy eaters. That's probably why it went for the fish, and not the Kiwis ;-)

kev

[bidkev]

Sharks, crocodiles, poisonous everythings, I swear I have no idea how you Aussies get up enough courage to leave your homes. The most dangerous thing I face from the animal kingdom here in Chicago is a foul-tempered squirrel, an angry dog, or a sharp shooting pigeon. Of course, if you count humans in the animal kingdom, I quickly gain ground on you. I was first shot at, at the age of six In a car with my family coming home from grandma's house--white guy in the wrong neighborhood at the wrong time of day. Ah well. They missed. We lived, life goes on.

Kingtin,

I've got to ask you. What kind of fish is that in your avatar picture? I've never seen anything like that before. Looks kind of creepy.

Be careful fellas. Keep clear of those sharks. I don't want to hear of any of you guys getting whacked by one of those beasties!

Hi el carpo. Welcome to Oz

Yeah, some of my friends and family are trying to migrate here and I always warn 'em......."Australia's great, but if it doesn't sting you, then it will bite you, and if it doesn't do that, ten to one it's about to shit on you" :-) If it does all 3, then 100 to one the Japs or Viets will eat it :-)

The fish is a shovel-nose ray, Although they're referred to as sharks, they're pretty harmless unless you get a whack from the tail and they're pretty good eating too. Grants guide to fishes says they grow to 9 feet but I swear, I've had 'em to the side of the boat a good 5 metres in size. Me and the missus tried hauling one over the back of the boat and couldn't lift it. The transom and engine bears witness to the size of it........they have rough "nobbles" down their spine and it flipped onto it's back as we were hauling and the saw marks on the transom and my brand new Yamaha :-( are clear for all to see.

They're derided by some, but I think they put up a real tough fight.....nothing spectacular, just sheer bloody brute force as they use their wings to "gather the tide" or dig 'emselves into the bottom. I'm proud of the one shown as it was taken on 5 kilo line off a local pier.

Nice if you could get here some day.....the Aussies are real down to earth friendly guys........unless they're dealing with pomms or Kiwis ;-)

seeya

kev

[el_carpo]

Shovel nosed ray. Never heard of them before. Thanks for the info. If the Guide says the biggest one is 9 feet and you caught one way bigger, maybe you should contact them and let them know. You may have a world record!!! At least a line class record? Get your name in lights! Maybe a lure endorsement or two!

I'd LOVE to get down to Australia some day and do some fishing, but unfortunately, financial restraints being what they are for me, it's not very likely. I'll just have to stick with catching the fish I grew up with. Not so bad really. I have fun.

Good luck and good fishing!!!

[PinHead]

You have more chance of an angry dog biting you than anything else....no need to worry about the animals...they ain't gunna hurt ya unless you go into their territory..a lil common sense and nothing tragic happens.

[bidkev]

Shovel nosed ray. Never heard of them before. Thanks for the info. If the Guide says the biggest one is 9 feet and you caught one way bigger, maybe you should contact them and let them know. You may have a world record!!! At least a line class record? Get your name in lights! Maybe a lure endorsement or two!

I'd LOVE to get down to Australia some day and do some fishing, but unfortunately, financial restraints being what they are for me, it's not very likely. I'll just have to stick with catching the fish I grew up with. Not so bad really. I have fun.

Good luck and good fishing!!!

No luck on the world record stuff..........I mean..........I didn't *actually* boat it. I've snipped many of them loose.....I wouldn't want a 5metre fish in a 6 metre boat, ot even hanging tailed from the back of it!

Thanks for the good wishes.

kev