Poida said...

Woodo said...

Poida said...
[might be Mr Big again


there are signs up either end of smiths beach saying there is a whale carcass. we couldnt see one, and there was a nice bank in the middle of the bay on the weekend, so decided to go surfing.

Mate your keen.
I don't have a problem jumping in the water pretty much anytime but you wouldn't get me out there when there is or has been a whale carcas washed up recently.
That would be like burleying up for a day then going for a dip in your burley trail.
Only a matter of time before something is going to be sniffing around...
(Bank does look fun but)

we checked the beach and no carcass, so unless it was just out floating around, but couldnt see it. dont know how long the sign has been there?

I wouldnt have gone out if there was a carcass on the beach or in the shallows, even if the surf was good.

Ok - so just rang the Department of Conservation that posted the warning... the whale carcass washed ashore at Torpedo Rocks on the 25th August and is still there and decomposing (they check it every couple of days). Apparently it is a relatively small whale - but an 'attractant' none the less...

She also told me that there have been lots of sharks reported, apparently the whales are bringing their calves in close this year... and the seal colonies around the place...

Cue Jaws theme... Derrum, Derrum,

GPA said...

Poida said...

Woodo said...

Poida said...
[might be Mr Big again


there are signs up either end of smiths beach saying there is a whale carcass. we couldnt see one, and there was a nice bank in the middle of the bay on the weekend, so decided to go surfing.

Mate your keen.
I don't have a problem jumping in the water pretty much anytime but you wouldn't get me out there when there is or has been a whale carcas washed up recently.
That would be like burleying up for a day then going for a dip in your burley trail.
Only a matter of time before something is going to be sniffing around...
(Bank does look fun but)

we checked the beach and no carcass, so unless it was just out floating around, but couldnt see it. dont know how long the sign has been there?

I wouldnt have gone out if there was a carcass on the beach or in the shallows, even if the surf was good.

Ok - so just rang the Department of Conservation that posted the warning... the whale carcass washed ashore at Torpedo Rocks on the 25th August and is still there and decomposing (they check it every couple of days). Apparently it is a relatively small whale - but an 'attractant' none the less...

She also told me that there have been lots of sharks reported, apparently the whales are bringing their calves in close this year... and the seal colonies around the place...

Cue Jaws theme... Derrum, Derrum,

ignorance is bliss,
i felt better not knowing
I'll tell the groms we were risking our lives, that'll give them something to tell at school

GPA said...

From today's Standing Room Only - Marg's surf report...

WIND:Light variable.
WAVES:Inconsistent three to five feet.
COMMENTS:A few fun ones on offer at Mainbreak albeit inconsistent which hasn't detered a handfull of the break fast club. Small swell reefs and beach breaks are throwing up much of the same with clean fun lines on offer. Wind looks like it will swing onshore within the hour. Keep your eyes peeled in the water as there have been a few shark sightings up and down the coast from Boranup to Dunsborough (must be the same one eh? Pigs Arse!).
Rating: 5 out of 10.

So ya going to take your board or a fishing rod and a stubby holder?
(or all of the above)

Just found out something interesting through the down south 'grapevine';

A local down south riders club ( I am not mentioning any names or individuals) are planning to petition local MPs in a bid to allow culling of GWS in the inshore areas of the cape and surrounds.

I have read the letter and it clearly states that they want the 'shark problem sorted out' and that as 3 surfers have died in 7 years sharks need culling.
I used to be a member of this club and I am glad I am no longer associated with them.

Taking out a top predator in any environment upsets the predator/prey relationship that is an essential component of the ecosystem.

Culling would have little effect and the chances of the Govt taking the GWS off of the endangered species list would also be minuscule.

To be clear, I really understand what its like to lose a friend and family member. And I really understand the fear and concern locals down south have. I myself would probably stay out of the water for the time being.

Ados said...



I myself would probably stay out of the water for the time being.

Yeah - I am right on the fence so to speak... I don't get down south too often these days so really look forward to it... that said, I have NEVER heard so many reports of sharks in my 30yrs of surfing... and I don't believe that it is just more people being aware or a media beat-up. Just seems to be more around...

add to that increased media exposure sham
ie. shark spotted this afternoon will be blogged, news articled and forumed about by 100,000+ people by tomorrow morning

this is probably the main spike in what we see as "more numbers" imo
in saying that, surfing this time of year at dawn, dusk or offshore has always given me goosebumps - then i get on with it

i think the increase in the whale population would help attract and increase sharks looking for delicious baby whales (well thats what a shark would think). how long has it been since whaling has stopped, the population of whales would start to increase back again. this changes the balance and is a food source for the GWS.

I dont think cullling a few larger sharks would affect the food chain balance. wether it would reduce the number of attacks is debatable? needs more research on how many and where they travel to and from.

someone told me sharks were a bit like dogs, some are vicious others playful. so culling a known problem one wouldnt phase me.

jbshack said...

I find it so disappointing that surfers of all people would want to harm our oceans. Sharks are there for a reason. We enter into there environment and yet we think we should kill them so a few scared gutless idiots can feel better about themselves. Sorry but it really pisses me of

I would have thought with all the so called sightings people could now see that maybe GWS aren't all about killing us of. If they wanted to they could do allot more damage then they have been.

The same gutless twits will possibly campaign for the local shire to smooth of all the rough prickly bits of reef that keep snagging there tutu's next.

lol

Poida said...

i think the increase in the whale population would help attract and increase sharks looking for delicious baby whales (well thats what a shark would think). how long has it been since whaling has stopped, the population of whales would start to increase back again. this changes the balance and is a food source for the GWS.

I dont think cullling a few larger sharks would affect the food chain balance. wether it would reduce the number of attacks is debatable? needs more research on how many and where they travel to and from.

someone told me sharks were a bit like dogs, some are vicious others playful. so culling a known problem one wouldnt phase me.

The one that chomped the boogie boarder is a local 6m female and is generally agressive, (sounds like a girl that I knew once) ones like this could be culled I guess. I personally dont think its a way to fix this problem.
If culling occurs people in general are going to think its safe but as sharks can be random in where they swim and hunt people are going into the water with a false sence of security

Checked the home page of Perthnow.com.au for a general news update - and there is video footage of a large shark cruising the shallows of Dunsborough today...

It won't let me post a link - but it is the right hand side video panel on the home page...

I'm guessing 7ft...

I may be completely off the ball here but these sightings from year to year seem to have a higher frequency after we go through a "real" winter, point is the last couple of winters have been reasonably mild with last year being more like spring / autumn for 6 months. it may be that when the ocean is continually messsed up with large swells and a lot of wind it may make for tough conditions for sharks to hunt, so they come into shallower waters to hunt. Then we come into some calmer days, weeks and into months when people get back into the water and these sightings are seemingly very frequent as conditions improve. Maybe these sharks have not had a feed for an extended period, not sure just seems to be common over a long period of different winter patterns. Just a thought.
I'm guessing subasurf is studying this and maybe might have some input to back this up or blow me out of the water!!

Mate had his board nudged by a bronze whaler at 13th beach in vic yesterday. Circled 3 of them for a couple of minutes before cruising off

Said he's never paddle in so fast before using only
His fingertips!! haha

default said...

^^ lol

yeah like paddling as fast as you can, but at the same time trying to be as smooth as possible, no splashing...and wheres a friggen wave when you REALLY need one!?!?

Up Kalbarri way once managed to out paddle the waves to the beach, much to amusement of the wife and her friend. I actually over took them..

There's no surf at Mullaz!

jbshack said...

default said...

subasurf said...

Meh...personally it doesn't bother me in the slightest.

ha, when you actually see a whitey cruise past beneath you, I reckon you might think differently. It was the most scared I have ever been, and it changed my whole outlook. It looked like a submarine cruising past - dead still except for its forward momentum.

Saying that, it may have been one

Haha thats why i like Mullas. SO much weed you wouldn't see it if it bumped you in the leg atm