don't sit in the water to long off the coast of cali

[Spencer R]

San Onofre - Not really wind related - except that I surf right there every year and have kited there a few times.
Chuck Patterson (kiteboarder) was SUP'ing and caught this on video..
http://vimeo.com/14054518

Had a similar experience about 4 years ago in Ventura, CA at C-Street. I was there kiting on a nuking day.. just me and 1 windsurfer, on the water. I saw dolphins earlier that day, which just have a dorsal and a flat tail. I stopped to take a break floating in the water after i passed over a kelp bed. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed a something move from the side behind me. I turned and noticed a very large dorsal about 75' away, thought it was a dolphin, but then saw its tail come up and knew it was a very large shark and it was coming right for me. I panicked, powered my kite and was ripped out of my board and thrown about 40'. I tacked away for a while, but then decided I was too far off shore to try to get back without a board, so i had to calm myself and tack right back toward the shark and my board. The swell was too big to see a long way off and it took my 10 minutes which seemed like forever to find my board. Never saw the shark, so i thought it had left. Watching this video made me realize that it was probably right under watching me the whole time. Finally got on the board and got the hell into shore. When i landed a guy was walking down the beach, and i asked him if he had ever seen shark in the water. He told me that he was working construction on a house close to the beach a week before and saw what he though was a jet ski coming full speed at shore and hit a seal near shore, then he realized it was a great white. I know attacks are extremely rare but it still makes you think. So i don't sit too long in the water off the coast of cali anymore. Lucky we dont have that big of fish in our waters - only a few carp that might catch your fins.

[jason morton]

Spencer-
You know what I'm going to say, so I'm just going to come out and say it. You would make a better toothpick than a meal. Myself, Don, Bob, or Craig: We would provide a more satisfying meal. Even Billy would make a real tasty appetizer!!

[rizzle]

all i can say is OMG!!!!!!!!!

[Don Losee]

Wow Morton! You are saying I am Fat?

[Kenny]

Even Billy would make a real tasty appetizer!!

that is if you have a taste for squirrel

[Josh Shirley]

I think Jason is saying that you guys are well marinated in fine wine and herbs. So you would be tastier.

[bigwavedave]

I was just surfing there last month with the wife and kids and was within 50 yards of a couple dolphins. Had any of them known these were regulars I'd probably never have got them in the water.

[RickHeninger]

I was sailing off Golden Gate Park on Ocean beach a few years back and saw a fish... Knew it wasn't a dolphin... Too big... It came from sideshore towards my board and then turned FAST going under me out to sea... After messing up my drysuit, I quickly made straight for the beach... This totally explains my experience...

I probably wouldn't have made the best meal either at 6' 2" 185lbs. and lack the fine wine with herb... But, just because a sample at Costco looks meager and unseasoned, doesn't mean I don't give it a try!

Spence, your experience would be pretty freaky. I remember sailing Crissy Field over to Sausalito on an ebb tide (going out to sea)... It was pretty strong and I was looking up at the amazing view of Golden Gate Bridge. I took a jump off a pretty good swell in 25 mph wind... I wipedout and had to swim to my gear 30 feet away... And try to stay calm while swimming... . Couldn't help curling my toes a little. Later I was informed by a local that there's never been a documented shark fatality INSIDE the bay, which means east of the bridge! But I'm sure they go in there...

Amazing footage. yikes.