Port San Luis Harbor Patrol says at about 9 a.m. Wednesday a sea lion was found with an evident shark bite. Harbor managers say a sea lion was attacked by a shark but at this time they do not know the location of the attack.

As a precaution, Harbor Patrol has posted a shark advisory sign throughout Port San Luis and Avila Beach. The signs warn folks to enter the water at their own risk and will be posted for 3 days. Harbor managers say the sea lion is still alive.

A comment posted by an Amy Taylor on the KSBY website indicates a high level of apparent shark activity in this area: “What about all the seals that washed up on Shell Beach this weekend? There must have been at least 4 of them.”

This magnificent beast of a bull shark is precisely what you should fear beneath.

The Tweed Daily News

People should be more concerned about bull sharks in Tweed’s murky rivers than great whites in the ocean, a local shark expert said yesterday.

Over the past few days great whites have been caught off Rainbow Bay and Mermaid Beach, and on Sunday Snapper Rocks swimmers had to be evacuated from the surf following several shark sightings.

According to Dr. Daniel Bucher, senior lecturer in marine biology and fisheries at SCU, there is no need to panic, but swimmers should remain vigilant. “There are more people I know that have had sharks swim under their surfboard and ignored them than have actually been attacked,” Dr. Bucher said.

“It is always worth being conscious, but I would be more concerned about bull sharks in our local rivers and estuaries. The bull shark is considered particularly dangerous because of the number of attacks in murky waters. I would never swim in a canal estate.”

Dr. Bucher, a marine biologist for 21 years, said different types of sharks could be found in Tweed and Gold Coast waters year round.

Grey nurse sharks can be found off the coast from late winter to early spring, whereas tiger, mako and bull sharks are more common in winter. However, it is in the warmer months that shark sightings are more common.

“They go where the food is, so if there are large schools of bait fish there is more chance of them coming in, but if the beaches are slow for food, they will move offshore.” Dr. Bucher said he believed swimmers in deep water and spear fishermen were most at risk of a shark attack, but he can understand why there was a culture of fear when it came to great whites.

“It is so damn big and doesn’t hesitate to tackle something as big as a human,” he said. “And tiger sharks, they are a tropical species. They’ll eat anything, and are often called the garbage bin of the sea.”

Gold Coast Council’s chief lifeguard Warren Young said it was up to swimmers and surfers to use their common sense when it came to sharks. “People need to be vigilant and take responsibility. Don’t go swimming in the early hours of the morning or after dusk,” Mr. Young said.

“Always try to swim with a friend. There is an added risk if you are on your own. “Swim between the flags at patrolled beaches, and if you are in any doubt, ask the surf lifesavers. That is what they are there for.”

State parks has closed Hapuna and Wailea Beaches on the Big island today.

Three sharks were sighted between Puako and Mauna Kea Beach around 9:30 this morning. A 12 foot tiger shark was spotted approximately 600 yards off the Puako boat ramp, an eight foot shark was seen approximately 300 yards off Maumae Beach and an eight foot shark was seen approximately 200 yards off of Mauna Kea Beach Hotel.

The Department of Land and Natural Resources has posted warning signs on the beaches. The Hawaii Fire Department will continue to monitor the shark activity in the area.

Then on Sunday afternoon, someone reported a six to eight foot shark at Lanikai. Astate land officer could not confirm the sighting so the beach is still open. This comes after a busy week of sightings and one attack.

On the Big Island, what state experts call the biggest influx they have seen in a long time kept beaches from Hapuna to Waialea bay closed for six straight days. They reopened but signs stayed posted Friday.

On Tuesday, Todd Murashige was bitten on his right leg while surfing Crouching Lions.

“I just kind of … reaction … just ahh. And just right there and I stuck my fingers into his mouth to try and pry him off,” Todd Murashige said.

The 40-year-old father of two paddled himself back to shore. He could be out of the hospital this week. And Thursday, a 10-to-12 foot tiger shark off Laniakeas and Chuns Reef had lifeguards pulling people out of the water. No one there was hurt.

Source: KGMB9 News

Officials and local residents have been somewhat puzzled by the extreme amount of shark activity in recent weeks, including sightings of up to fifteen tiger sharks in one day, as well as the follow-up sightings that kept the beaches closed for an extended period of time.

Source: KGMB9 News

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Hey There-

I’m an SB local who is has been reading the fear beneath for a few months now. About a month ago I booked a ticket to visit my college roommate who now lives in Captain Cook on the big island of Hawaii (just south of Kona).

In the past few weeks I have become increasingly nervous about participating in water sports while in Hawaii due to the shark sightings/attacks/beach closures. In my paranoia I decided to map out where the beach closures are taking place. The link below is my google map of the closed beaches on the big island. Though you might be interested.

Allegra’s Google Map of Recent Big Island Shark Activity

cheers and safe surfing,

Allegra

The Fear Beneath always welcomes reader feedback and submissions! Please feel free to use our contact form to submit stories, news, photos and more!

Recreational ocean users are now encouraged to avoid completely and/ or use extreme caution in the following areas: Hapuna State Park, Waialea Bay, Spencer Beach Park, Maumai Beach, and Kauauhai Harbor. The following brief press release was issued by KITV4 Honolulu News:

HONOLULU

The sighting of four tiger sharks prompted ocean safety officials to close several beaches on the Big Island on Wednesday.

Four tiger sharks measuring between 8- and 12-feet long were seen in waters between Kauahai Harbor and Maumai Beach, officials said. Ocean safety officials kept Hapuna State Park, Waialea Bay and Spencer Beach Park closed.

BIG ISLAND, HAWAII

Watch where you swim on the Big Island. After two days of shark worries, a string of sightings shuts down yet another beach.

State wildlife officials report confirmed sightings Monday of 15 large sharks along the northwest side of the Big Island.

Three beaches are now closed along the Kawaihae coast. Hapuna State Park and Waialea Bay were closed Sunday because of shark sightings. Now add Spencer Beach Park to that list.

That’s about a five mile stretch near the the Mauna Kea golf course. Lifeguards at Hapuna beach say the animals appeared to be tiger sharks ranging in size from about 6-feet to 16-feet long.

It’s unknown if they’re the same sharks seen in that area over the weekend.

Officers with the fire department and Department of Land and Natural Resources have been tracking the sightings and are warning everyone in that area to stay out of the water until further notice.

Source: KGMB9 News, Honolulu

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For the second day in a row, Big Island officials said they have closed beaches in the South Kohala area because of sharks.

A Big Island helicopter spotted three sharks in the area between Puako and Mauna Kea Beach Sunday morning.

A tiger shark 10 to 12 feet in length was seen 600 yards off Puako boat ramp.

The two other sharks were seen off Maumae Beach and Mauna Kea Beach Hotel.

Hapuna and Wailea Beaches are closed.

Source: KITV Honolulu News