Leszekgorski Question.

[magicalbill]

Hey;
I didn't want to ask this on your side window topic; reading you were a seasoned diver in the Keys, I am curious...

Looe is one of my favorite spots to snorkel when we vacation down there. I have seen more than a few barracudas, too many man-o-war and various jellyfish, but no sharks. Have you ever encountered sharks at Looe key? If so, what do you do? Especially if you encounter a dangerous one?
Thanks and good luck with your window search. I have a 232 Gulfstream Grady that is a great boat.

 

[leszekgorski]

Hey, I've never seen any other sharks than Nurse and Thresher on the Looe Key. You got to go to the Back-country to find Bull or Lemon Sharks. Don't get in the Bull shark territory. Who do you go with (if you buying a trip to Looe Key)? We live on the same canal as Strike Zone Charters. If you've been here recently you could see my GW little down on your right.

 

[magicalbill]

We go on our own. I run my Grady out there when Hawks Channel isn't too rough. We just tie off to a bouy and snorkel. I haven't cruised Big Pine. We come down from the Marathon area and angle out to Looe once we pass Bahia Honda.

 

[leszekgorski]

It's the best way, we did the same when living in Houston area and dreaming about the Keys. pulling our Wellcraft then or renting one here. finally we got bought out and moved in to the Big Pine Key. Grady was in the dreams then as well, now we own one, and is awesome, exactly as in the dreams.
Keep up with the Keys, the best part of the world.

 

[SmokyMtnGrady]

Magic:
I frequent the middle and upper Keys and have been to Looe a few times. Most of the sharks on the reefs I have seen are either black tips or nurse sharks. I have seen two hammerheads, one at the Elbow which is a blue water reef that juts out into the Gulf Stream and on the Jesus Reef or Key Largo Dry Rocks.

The overwhelming number of shark bites actually occur near inlets with Ponce Inlet - New Smyrna Beach, being the shark bite capital of the US mainland. Those are mainly juvenile black tips and threshars. They are incidental bites mainly on surfers in cloudy turbulent waters. With that said, the bull shark is Florida's most deadly.

We were at Cayo Costa State Park a few years back and anchored in about 5 feet of water just outside the closest sand bar to the beach on a calm day on the Gulf side. The water was exceptionally clear. We went ashore and then saw a huge, 8 to 10 foot bull shark patrolling between the sand bar and the boat. My kids were much younger and I have to tell you I was a bit nervous getting back to the boat. We waited for the shark to leave as much as we could determine that it was gone. When we visit the panhandle beaches we do not go into the water after 5 pm, ever. Too many people have been killed by bulls patrolling the near shore zones of the Gulf beaches for my liking.

In the end I have a respect for sharks and enjoy seeing them in the Keys because for the most part diving and snorkeling in clear water is safe. But Leszekgorski is right on about the bull sharks.

 

[mboyatt]

What is wrong with encountering a shark while snorkeling or diving? I grew up in Miami, Fl, and spent the first 25 years of my life snorkeling and diving in the Keys, Bahamas, and all in-between. If the sharks continue to show an interest, then you gracefully exit the water. No stress. Normally, you will see a shark, and they will go about their business. They aren't out to eat a diver or someone snorkeling. Just my thoughts on the issue. If you are where there is zero visibility, I don't know. Why would you be snorkeling or diving in an area whith no visibility??

 

[leszekgorski]

We are on the first (20' deep 60'wide) canal from US1, and I still should have some pictures of thresher sharks in my canal feeding on left overs from the fish I'd filet that night. I've seen quite few hammerheads when working (diving)of off Texas and Louisiana shores. Not much here. Always careful when diving on the Back-country side especially with my grand kids. Anybody looking for awesome pictures with big animals should check to Georgia Aquarium. not sure about the passes (I got different access) but what a experience.

 

[SmokyMtnGrady]

mboyat:
There aint nothing wrong at all swimming with sharks. My kids enjoy seeing them on the reefs when we are down there. My youngest son and I were snorkeling in the Exumas near Thunderball and saw about a 10 foot lemmon shark. It was awesome! When I grew up surfing at New Smyrna we saw them there as well. A few years back I was surfing on my sit on top surf kayak at Ponce Inlet at the same time a surfer down the line was bit on the leg. I saw several sharks under me and in along the waves. I did paddle back to shore after I caught the next wave lol.

 

[magicalbill]

Leszekgorski;
I agree..We never lose touch with the keys. My goal, living in Fla. now is to run my Grady down there in the summer when the winds are light and the water warm. Up 'till now, we've always gone in Jan. Before I retired from my music career, that was the only time that made sense to block off from the schedule.
The trip down from Charlotte Harbor is doable given light winds. It's on the list....

Smoky;
Interesting you saw the Bull Shark off Cayo Costa. I have been told nearby Boca Grande Pass is the Shark Capitol Of Anywhere during the mad fishing of Tarpon Season. There are many stories of sharks grabbing the hooked tarpon as they are reeled in by anglers. Boca Pass is one of the widest passes on the West Coast of Fla, and during the height of the season, it is thick with CC's Flats Boats, you name it. I have seen ESPN filming also.

I must admit, I'm not anxious to be that next victim on the 6:00 News that got hit by a shark while swimming. We came to Fla. to boat, swim and snorkel and If I can't get in the water, I might as well go back to Indiana. I think caution and common sense is the key. We always anchor near other boats. It gives me a sense of security..If they are swimming and are fine, then it's ok for us too. I know it doesn't work that way; I just like the peace of mind.