DEADLY PURSUIT:  THE MOMENT A DIVER COMES FACE TO FACE WITH KILLER SHARK

Like a rabbit in the headlights, this brave scuba diver faces off against one of the most feared and endangered predators of the deep.

With its notably long pectoral fins enabling it to glide like a bird through the water, a 10ft-long, 350lb female Oceanic White Tip shark was photographed by Brian Skerry off the Out Islands in the Bahamas.

Swimming inches past Mr Skerry's long-time collaborator Wes Pratt, the large shark observed the pair for two hours.

Fearsome: An Oceanic White Tip shark bears down on marine biologist Wes Pratt in the Bahamas

 

Patiently waiting for days to find one specimen, Mr Skerry counted himself lucky, as recent surveys have estimated that the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean population of the white tip to have fallen by 98 per cent since the 1950s.

'The Oceanic White Tip is considered one of the most dangerous sharks in the sea along with the Great White and Tiger,' said Mr Skerry, 48, who has been an underwater photographer for 30 years.

'It is responsible for some of the most famous episodes of man-eating in history, such as when the USS Indianapolis sank in 1945.

'Around 800 sailors escaped into the water when it was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine, but only 321 were pulled from the sea alive.

'Most of the deaths in the water were from dehydration and heat exposure, but a significant number were attacked by Oceanic White Tips.'

Classed as a pelagic shark, the White Tip is mainly seen out in the open water of the Earth's oceans.

The exact population of Oceanic White Tips around the world is unknown, but the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources have classed the shark globally as vulnerable and critically endangered in the Western and Central Atlantic Ocean.

Cage fighter: Mr Pratt enjoys a moment of respite inside a protective cage. His collaborator Brian Skerry took these pictures during a two-hour swim with the shark

 

Mr Skerry said: 'We were lucky to encounter this shark and more than that extremely lucky to observe it for two hours.

'I first saw it in the sea while on the boat and without wasting any time me and Wes dived straight in and started to photograph the shark.

'It was in the late afternoon and as soon as I was in the water the shark came over to investigate me. 

'I had to push her away with the lens of my camera and eventually she settled into a circling pattern I suppose trying to work out what we were doing.'

Eventually lowering a cage into the water, Mr Skerry opted to stay out so as to observe Mr Pratt's human interaction with the large shark.

'My heart was definitely in my mouth when I jumped in and the nerves were going when I saw the shark heading towards Wes,' he said.

'If I wasn't slightly scared then I wouldn't be in the water, because that would be foolish.'

Lunch: The shark is fed some bait, while the biologists' boat can be seen floating on the water's surface

 

Eventually leaving the shark after two hours, Mr Skerry found the experience one to savour.

'She was definitely firm but polite and showed no outward signs of aggression,' he said. 'She was good to deal with.'

In fact, the reduction of Oceanic White Tips around the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean is reaching critical levels approaching extinction, according to prominent experts.

A study by Dr Ram Meyers in 2005 extensively studied the falling population of the Oceanic White Tips.

'I have seen research that indicates that Oceanic White Tip populations may have fallen by 98 per cent since 1955,' said Dr Samuel Gruber, 72, a shark expert who lives in Bimini, Florida.

Their food has been extensively fished in the Gulf and the Caribbean and it can be said that where once they were very common, they have disappeared in some areas.

'They still do well in areas such as Hawaii, but it is definitely something that we are watching with interest.'

Endangered species: Oceanic White Tip populations are thought to have fallen by 98 per cent since 1955

By Mail Foreign Service
3rd July 2010

posting for a freind...

does anybody have a color gps/sounder combo compleate with everything needed to opperate, including the mapping card for the local area(perth)

 cash buyer.

max$1200

thanks ron

anyone heading out sunday?

I'll start with Clueless or what about The spooners

gday all just got a job in tom price wondering if there is any fishing avail relatively close to tom price??? have every sundy off and they're isnt much to do besides the pub and im missing being able to wet a line cheers

hi all

I went down to woodies a few weeks back now and was fishing.  5am i got there, freaking cold and got 2 herring

but around 7am some guys pulled up in utes put thir lines out and then i put mine out again and WOW this guy hurls abuse at me like nothing, carries on that I went over his line etc etc

so any way he carries on for like 5 minutes, friends all laughing cause he is swearing etc.  i pull my line in and WOW its not even next to his anywhere. then he decides to put a balloon out that goes right where im trying to fish.

people need to show some respect towards others.  i love my fishing but not when u get abused and he didnt even say sorry or anything

Im making up rigs for my first go at Canadian fishing, worms seem to be the go to bait, anyone have any experience doing this and know the best way to present them on hook? It seems some people here like to thread them onto a larger hook, like size 3. but i was wondering if two smaller hooks snelled and passed through the worm only once might present the bait more naturally and stop pickers from stealing the bait?

Any advice is appreciated! im new to this kind of fishing and the only guy i know here to get advice from hasnt fished in years.

anyone know a stockist have looked around my locals and havent found them

Enjoy

just wondering guys is tims thicket white hills and is there any good fish down there this time of year would be great if some1 could get me info heading down there on saturday morning for a cruse taking the 4wd

hi guys just wondering does any tackle stores in perth sell jm power knobs or similar they look pretty good and not to expensive i dont use credit cards so  looking for a store.cheers

Taking  the wife to shark bay in early September for a fishing holdiay. Unfortunatley unlike me she doesnt eat fish so rather than head our deep we would like to do some shallow water sight fishing. Just woundering which areas are best for shallow water lure fishing. Is shark bay side better or monkey mia better.

We will be taking a 4.5m runabout up there but im not too keen about taking it over to dirk harthog.

Thanks in advance

Hi,

I have a Shimano TLD25 complete with matching Shimano Gold rod for sale.

The reel is loaded with 50lb braid (Tufline from memory) and is about 3 years old. All in very good condition and rarely used.

Asking $170 for the rod & reel.

Cheers Steve (0417 379 361)

HI guys

IM heading up to lancelin at the end of the month for 5 days. I have had my boat for about a year and haven't caught a dhuies. ( been fishing for 22 years and never caught one). is thier any areas at lancelin that i could try to increase my chance. how far out do i need to go at lancelin, to be in some resonable ground. Some help would be muchly appreciated.

cheers matt

I'd like to congratulate Sandy and Russ Faulkner for managing to Keep their Shop open for a year today. Great effort considering the difficulty others have had in the area. Congrats guys.

hey....

im going longpoint with a friend fishing, hoping for some shark or something, anyone else fancy tagging along??? winds seem to be down tonite, so should be a good fish :) tide starts rolling back in at about 7pm, so with a bit of luck might get some decent fish or shark on the tide turn.

Planning on doing some beach fishing on my days off, probably around Secret Harbour - Mandurah way, just wondering is dawn/dusk time better than whats the tides are doing? If there a preferred scenario i.e rising tide in the evening etc??

Hi all,

Simple question - what knot would you recommend for hooks / swivels on a light 4lb Fireline setup? I wan't to max the breaking strain so need a knot that will knot (sic) cut into the line. Would a snell be the way to go? Or do you think a Palomar is a better option?

The hooks I typically use all have a straight eye - which I think is relevant for some knots (triple Palomar?)

Thanks,

Buschy

P.S. Apologies this is in the wrong forum - I can't seem to access the Knots & Rigging forum from work!

Hey i was just wondering if anyone knows a site that list the results for the march 28th 09 mandurah bream classis and the oct 11/12 mandurah grand final

Deckie available for tommorw ,thurs and fri , keen to get out there,usually chip in fuel,bait,etc .gt own gear.cheers:)

Hi guys i am new to this site, i have been involved in the breaming scene for a few years now looking to get into more offshore and sports fishing. Just wondering if anyone has had any experience with Pelagic Rods and Reels. They are on ebay and look not bad rating etc. Any info would be great

Cheers rossco

If anyones heading out from Hillary's,o'reef or mindarie this week, call in ( off hepbuern Ave)

Since I sold my boat fishing has taken a back seat as such, except to flicking some lures when I go down south.

Anyway I have some Squid packs, occy, pillies and some whole whiting I used to trail, to get out of my freezer.

So if you want some free bait (or an extra deckie) Let me know, this bait is sitting there going no where fast. I just won't throw it out... ((( i ALSO HAVE A HEAP OF TUNA HEADS IF ANYONE WANTS THEM FOR CRABBING))))

Cheers, Corza.

Hi guys as much as I love fishing on boats it always seems to make me sick. Just wanted to know if any one has tried the ET sea sick pills as Im off to the montes in a couple of weeks. I have tried the usual kwells ect which work for little while before i end up in a hole!. I would appriciate any help or feed back you can give me - thanks alot and tight lines.

Yet to get onto any pinks in the sound whats the best time to go?????
cheers

Hi everyone i have a a heap of maps at home showing the depth and reefs in the metro area jsut curious if there are any programs out there which are done in much more detail and more accurate then the convential nautical charts.  any help or program suggestions would be great .

Has anyone heard of these blanks or used them? was after an opinion on these as they are a reasonably priced jig style blank. Tah

Hey Guys,

I am looking to get an apprenticeship in the electrical trade, and wondering if any members on here would be keen on taking me on as an apprentice, or have a little advice on how to get in, what companies are hiring etc.

I am happy to call around and drop off my resume, or can email if that is what you would prefer.

PM me/call me or i can call you, if you know of anything going.

Thanks

Blake
0433 724 402

Lately fishing the metro area out wide has been quite dissapointing on many levels , lots of under size fish , no large fish and not a decent feed for a while.Im beginning to think metro waters are completly fished out , finding myself going deeper and deeper for a feed. Latly past three trips out have been Sad, with only 1 dhuie sized , 3 or 4 black arse n some skippy. The rest have been under size fish of dhuies, pink snapper.and sambos lots of them. Anyone else having any troubles? i fish from point perron out wide from garden island and rotto . i dont think im doing anything wrong but tips or info would be great ha. or is the area just fished out or polluted. Seems all the fish are NORTH of perth :) Hillaries upwards lol .