Frying Pan Shoals Shark Attack?

[Killer&Griller]

I went out to FPS yesterday, 6/23 for a solo dive or two. (Nobody likes me, otherwise they would call, "Gumshoe" j/k). I got there about 7:45am. The weather was 4-8 swell rollers all day all on the larger side in the afternoon. I decide since I have 5 non-divers in the boat, lets troll for a bit before I splash. Ya know, the old, I'm gonna take the spear gear just in case we come across a big weed line routine. The wind was running 15 - 20 knts. The dolphin start cooperating right out of the gate. The boys are happy and I figure it's been long enough, drop me off, I'm gaggin to go down. Finally, SPLASH, vis is perfect and I am looking at the bottom from the top. Big barracuddaaaaa everywhere. Schools of cigar minnows, blues, AP's (small), AJ's (small and big), everything. I decide to look around a minute before pulling the trigger. Quartering away from me is a 12 gag, I decide to drop down in introduce myself. After the shot, I string him and here comes a sweet 20lb hog fish. He decides to pose for me with his best side after a little coaxing. Nice, doing business with ya, 2 down. While all of this is going on, I am keeping an eye on three new friends, one 5' and two 7'ers, all sand tigers, kind of following me around but not getting too close. My preference is for them to lead but, apparently I got out voted. I've got both fish on the stringer by now and and trying to keep watching my fin buddies circling me. I see a really nice grouper I want to shoot but can't get the flopper out of the hog. Stoned the hog but hit thru the skull and just couldn't work it out. Pretty cool when they turn sheet white on ya for a minute. Watching my buds, looking for the grouper, working the flopper. The flopper is a waste of time, can't focus on it and don't want to push my luck. I surface to change out tanks, pull the shaft and decide to dive again in the same spot (usually move) because the grouper I saw was that big. Funny how the flopper comes out once I get on the boat. Here goes dive 2. As I go down and start making laps looking for the grouper. At this point, the smaller AJ's are backing off and the bigger ones are rolling in screaming "pick me, pick me". Tempting as it is, I am on a mission. After running laps around the place, it is evident that he has moved on. Now I am bummed. I got this big AJ that just won't give up. I decide to pull the "Clint Eastwood, do ya feel luck bit", go ahead swim by one more time. Normally I don't shoot AJ's but I figure I will pop him cause two of the boat lovers fishing up top in my boat while I'm down here diving like AJ's. I knew he was good size but under estimated a bit. He must have been a little further away than I thought. The AJ winds up being 47 lbs. We danced for about 8 - 10 minutes in the center of the rig. How it missed his spine I don't know but went in one side of his gills and out the other. I thought when the shaft hit he was done. I just new he was gonna give up, roll over, and play dead like a good boy. WRONG!! I had my own personal "sea doo" scooter with a fresh super charged battery. Finally get my hands on the AJ and have a 50lb baracuda come to within 3 foot to check out the AJ. Lets just put it this way, he was a bit longer than my AJ. Shoed him off and then, there he is, a 6 1/2 - 7 footer, sand tiger, laying on the bottom tucked under a ledge. At first I didn't think anything of it, to be honest, looked like a nurse shark from about 30 ft up and 60 ft off. I didn't realize it was a ST until I started moving in on him. Again, vis was great. I drop down towards him because something doesn't look right. As I get closer, I notice that he isn't moving. Get closer, closer, his body is gently swaying back and forth with the current. Hit the bottom quartering him from the rear and realize that he is dead. I pull him out from under the ledge and see where someone speared him or tried out there new powerhead. It had a ring around the entry that looked just like the tell tale sign of a powerhead. In one side and out the other. Keeping in mind that I am a avid deer hunter (anything that moves and tastes good) and shoot tons of guns, this didn't look like a gun shot from a boat. The exit wound was the same size a the entry and the angle was 45 and 35 degree top and side. Fish shot from a boat with a gun usually pattern differently. Now what I am wanting to hear is the story from someone that shot him in self defense instead of a needless killing. Does anyone know anything about it? Hope I didn't bore ya too much on the dive specs.

[bruce_s]

Have not heard of them being aggressive ever.Ashame someone would feel the need to do that.

[gumshoe]

Man, I thought you were going to say that you got attacked by one.

Craig, be real careful diving FPS by your self. Not that it's all that different than anywhere else, but the currents that can happen there can be difficult.

I'm going to guess that if entry and exit wounds were the same, it wasn't a powerhead.

Oh, your phone still dials out, doesn't it? :D

No pictures?

[SPEARIT]

Since sandtigers are a protected species and after the previous episode of a couple being shot on the Hyde/Markum by some less than dialed-in divers(we got these guns and we're gonna kill something) last year that got posted on another internet site(yes NCMP tracked them down and fined em). Probably a diver that was being harassed by the ST, so he took care of business and finished the dive, so you probably won't hear a story about this. Sandtigers are becoming as plentiful here as Jewfish in Fl. 25 years ago you had to go 50mi offshore to the wreck of the Tarpon to see ST's during their mating, now they're on all the wrecks and ledges.

[Killer&Griller]

I am guessing since it didn't blow a huge hole out the other side but just slightly larger, the it was a smaller cal bullet or it was speared.

Tom, left a message on your phone and also PM'ed you with my number today, didn't here back from you on the prices of 2-108 tanks from memorial day weekend.

Gum, give me a call if you are going in the next couple of weeks and have a spot. If you want to go fishing, let me know and I will give you a call on the next trip. My digital camera had a dead battery and one of the guys had a 35mm old style. We have to get the pics developed before posting.

[sbh]

Thanks for the report. I'm scheduled to go freediving out there next weekend and like hearing about 20 lb hogs!! :thumps:
Brent

[Quetzal]

"(Nobody likes me, otherwise they would call, "Gumshoe" j/k"
My number is 864-275-1323 in case you lost it. I'm available Sunday thru Thursday with 1-2 hours notice, and Friday and Saturdays with 1 days notice.

[Quetzal]

Nice Report! Congrats On The Hog!
Did You Use Your Wong?

[Mattedhead]

Sounds like some jackass had a field day. :mad: There was a sandbar shark dead on the bottom just off the tower with a ppd hole in its head the same day. There were two "out of towners w/ stripes" making quick work of it later that day. Too bad they didn't show up early when this hick was mowing down sharks...it would have been fun to see him get caught while reloading :D .

[mjacobs]

I'll be in NC the second full week of July, staying in Emeral Isle and would love to get back to Frying Pan Shoals. Other dive sites would be okay as well. Will freedive or scuba. Anybody have a ride to share?
Mark Jacobs

[Mattedhead]

Hey Mark...I'm sure we'll be out one of those weekends. 1st and second weekends in July for sure. Might be able to squeeze one more weekend in before Hatteras. We'll watch the weather. It'll be good to get back in the water w/ you again. Trying to hit up that area Sat if weather permits, and the following weekend we might be moving boats up to Hatteras w/ some diving in between. I'll keep you posted...and if I can't get down--I'll give you some contacts.

Matt

[mjacobs]

That would be great, Matt. Son Chris will be with me...you met him last summer. You are always a pleasure to dive with and I hope we can make it happen this trip. Good luck in Hatteras; wish I could make it.
Mark

[Mattedhead]

Sounds great Mark! Just shoot me an email w/ the exact dates and I'll try to figure something out.

matt

[RabiSpear]

Matt,
Are you planning to bring another "sinker" up to Hatteras? :) That was you guys right? We did the same thing last year.

[Killer&Griller]

Nice Report! Congrats On The Hog!
Did You Use Your Wong?

Yes sir, I am in love with the way that thing shoots.

[Mattedhead]

Blake-

I sure as hell hope not! Seems the cats have been cursed up there...but I will make sure this boat has a nice inflatable life raft to lounge in until the CG shows up just in case. I heard about Cam's deployment...that sucks. You will have to carry the weight of the family this year. See you guys in a few weeks. Will you be up that way scouting before? If so let us know, we will be up there 1/2 weekends checkin' it out.

Matt