It's shark season in San Clemente and surrounds…
Damn Orange County is, in the right light, one of the better joints you could live if you surf.
It’s more than Trestles, of course, although Lower Trestles is something very special, but on its fifty-mile stretch there are little round tubes to crouch under at Salt Creek, the peaks of HB, wedges at Newport so big they make a booming noise when they hit the shore like the explosion of shells and, my favourite, the Riveria section of San Clemente. Walk up the beach, find a peak, do your thing. And all under that crisp Californian sun.
What used to please me about Orange County was its negligible population of potentially troublesome Great White sharks. Sharks? The OC? Forget about it.
In the last few years, Great Whites have become synonymous with this stretch of coastline. Whether, as experts say it’s the natural result of protection or a healthier ecosystem (more seals and seal lions) is immaterial, really, because they ain’t going anywhere and therefore the OC surfer must live with this fact.
(Something the central coast and northern Californian surfer has always had to do. Click here to recall the day the noted writer Lewis Samuels either bravely went to the aid of a pal who’d been hit by a Great White or left him to die…)
Recently, a drone operator, Matt Larmand, captured the sight of two happy juvenile Whites, roughly six and eight feet in length, frolicking in waist-deep water at Dana Point, near Salt Creek.
“The Southern California coastline has seen an influx of sharks close to shore in recent years, groups of dozens and more gathering in “hot spots,” first noticed frequently near surfers and swimmers in the South Bay, Santa Monica and Ventura about six years ago, then showing up in Huntington, Surfside Beach and Seal Beach in higher-than-normal numbers about four years ago.
“Maria Korcsmaros nearly lost her life while training for a triathlon when a shark attacked her near Corona del Mar in May of 2016. In April 2017, swimmer Leeanne Ericson lost a piece of her leg and buttock to an estimated 10-foot shark off San Onofre State Beach.
“Last summer, a group of juvenile sharks took residence in shallow waters off Long Beach, as well as further south off Dana Point and San Clemente. Their presence made headlines and even led to the creation of shark tours to give people up-close looks at the predators.
“Dana Wharf Whale Watching launched “Shark Searches” last year to give spectators an up-close look at the sharks, selling out seats week after with week. Manager Donna Kalez said that if sightings do increase, early-morning whale watching charters may start also looking for sharks.”
Shark tours! Just like Cape Town or Port Lincoln.
What a thrill it must be to go from sleepy surf town to global Great White hotspot.
Anyone out there from the OC?
Are you proud of this new designation?
Are you thrilled to be an active participant in the oceanic food chain?
And Lairds!
When surfing certain areas just south of the beachside spent nuclear rod storage facility, I spot them at least every third session. I guess that’s technically north SD county. On Saturday a fast moving 5-6 footer parted the lineup and nobody went in. See them year round, so I don’t think they’re back from anywhere. Last few years have been pretty interesting. The bigger ones scare the shit out of me.
so are they mutated sharks with friggin lasers on their heads?
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
So: surfing and weight loss due to out-paddling the Noah’s, and / or having the fish-based surgical procedure of having your ass fat chewed off.
“Secrets Your Doctor Doesn’t Want You To Know!”
Radical shot
https://youtu.be/uvbKmyp9WI0
Word up https://youtu.be/Nx3xcDmJ9dE
Fuckin hell, I just was thinking as I paddled out this morning (alone! It was shit.) how nice it was that La Niña had driven these little guys somewhere else.
It’s pup season!
It has been for like 5 years!
My period is 2 weeks away so I’m good.
Unnecessary detail.
Like tammy ads.
What’d make me happy is if they started taking out sup’s.
I’d be letting nature take its course.
Not the only skinny 8ft juvenile creatures causing trouble in sleepy beach towns. How’s about those fucken Sudanese teens mate? If you leave your car for 5 minutes to run in and get a pack of darts they’ll throw a fucken brick through the window like it’s been abandoned. Funny little bastards.
In Torquay or do you refer to the big smoke?
In Torquay mate. I saw 4 skinny’s last night.
Very good at football, I believe. Born to run.
If Majak can get over his fear of the ball he may become an AFL great.
No chance. Poor bastard is allergic to leather.
They got fucked up https://www.youtube.com/wat…
https://youtu.be/v4_COOh4VXw
Fuck, Aussie flags at the end… jeezus.
Think they were staying at the caravan park next to Caltex. Maybe just hanging out. Anyway. I like their style.
Teach em to boog.Give em all yellow bottom boards and fish oil infused wetties. Problem solvered.