Sharks & Kites, Spring Is Here

[ricki]

Sounds like an epic session Mike! Your waves sound like something out of Tahiti. Could guys paddle into them? Do you have hard bottom out there in places or is it all sand?

When I arrived at Delray there were two guys undergoing instruction. They left after a while. For over two hours I had the entire launch to myself! The only explanation that I can think of is that they have run out of Deep Heat lotion at the drug store for all those sore riders out there. Imagine, blowing off 20 to 25 kt. winds, no squalls, great waves and sunny weather in the afternoon? Amazing.

I am not sure how I did it but I managed to get my kite caught in one of those waves and turned it into a soft pretzel. I couldn't get it sorted out with the wind loading, so deflated the leading edge, did the walk of shame back up the beach and started over.

I imagine your waves are shaped a bit differently around Boynton Inlet and the sand bar there. In Delray approaching low tide there was a fairly calm area out to about 100 yards followed by a zone of breakers about 30 yards wide. It was often calm enough to charge ramping waves at high speed and boost big. Anyway we could schedule a weekend of these conditions a couple of times a month?

[BizGuru]

It was a bit gusty down off 14th street near the Hillsboro inlet yesterday. I was in the water starting and my leg got bumped, hopefully it was just a pompano or something but I was not taking any chances. Murky water, around the inlet, birds on the water, at dusk, during the bait run. I remember the primary conditions in which shark bites occur watching shark week last year and I think I hand most of the yesterday. However Wednesday I got some nice riding in at commercial, not much but this ENE winds really makes you learn to ride upwind. Ride upwind or end up on the beach now that is motivation. I got to try out my GK Sonic 11m and that kite is awesome.

This weekend looks good so far, it will be nice to ride for more than an hour at a time.

[BigR]

That which bites you has to move pretty fast, I aim to move faster!

seriously tho' , the odds are very low. but I think you guys are jinxing it by all the toothy talk.

Just tell me there won't be any gray suits there this weekend or else I'll have to tell you of the 12' Bull sharks that regularly swim by my house/ launch area

[ricki]

Originally Posted by BigR

That which bites you has to move pretty fast, I aim to move faster!

seriously tho' , the odds are very low. but I think you guys are jinxing it by all the toothy talk.

Just tell me there won't be any gray suits there this weekend or else I'll have to tell you of the 12' Bull sharks that regularly swim by my house/ launch area

Usually, I would agree with you on the low risk part Raul. This case is different though. We have a migration of thousands of sharks northward up the coast escorting far more bait fish along the way. Last Sunday, I may have seen over fifty sharks cruise north within 20 ft. of the beach in less than an hour. Anytime we're on the water during this migration there is a good chance that there are a lot of sharks (dozens, a hundred, more? within a several hour session), within sensory distance, far more than normal the rest of the year.

While were on plane perhaps our risk is lower in this area. In the water retrieving a board or splashing around trying to learn how to water start, etc. I suspect the risk goes up quite a bit. The guys that track shark attacks EXPECT an increase in incidents and attacks while the buggers are cruising en masse so close to shore. A little extra care right now in the area of the migration would be a good idea.

[BigR]

Dang! I was planning venturing out towards one of the east coast inlets for the weekend but now you got me worried!

Any idea which inlet has seen the most sightings/ activity?

Maybe if I go to Monster hole ( S.I. ) the massive number of surfers in the water will dilute my kiting presence

[ricki]

sebastian, that's an excellent choice. just be sure the cook at STG doesn't fry you too long. the wind forecast is better south. try se fla.

[HIGHFLYN]

Originally Posted by BigR

Dang! I was planning venturing out towards one of the east coast inlets for the weekend but now you got me worried!

Any idea which inlet has seen the most sightings/ activity?

Maybe if I go to Monster hole ( S.I. ) the massive number of surfers in the water will dilute my kiting presence

Come on down to Boynton Inlet, The migration is Northward and I saw the larger schools passing threw this area last weekend, which would put then in Seba/Melborne area this weekend

Not to say that there still aren't some lingering around........

Why do you think they call it "Monster Hole"

[HIGHFLYN]

Originally Posted by RickI

Sounds like an epic session Mike! Your waves sound like something out of Tahiti. Could guys paddle into them? Do you have hard bottom out there in places or is it all sand?

Imagine, blowing off 20 to 25 kt. winds, no squalls, great waves and sunny weather in the afternoon? Amazing.

I imagine your waves are shaped a bit differently around Boynton Inlet and the sand bar there. In Delray approaching low tide there was a fairly calm area out to about 100 yards followed by a zone of breakers about 30 yards wide. It was often calm enough to charge ramping waves at high speed and boost big. Anyway we could schedule a weekend of these conditions a couple of times a month?

Easy does it Rick, Lets not confuse the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic . The Atlantic is mild in comparison. I haven't the balls to Kite Tahiti. I saw a few pic's of a guy kiting Teehapoo and all I can say is WOW

There were about 5 or so surfers out taking the drift and hooking up on some nice sections, But I could see them jones-in cause of all the speed and the nuggets I was getting. I stopped and talked to a long time buddy of mine and he asked "Do you even surf any more?"

I laughed and said "NOT when it windy"

I CAN'T imagine blowing off 20-25kts that's just sacrilegious

There some hard bottom on the inside-south side of the Inlet, But mostly sand bottom. The thing is with all the wind were had since NOV it manicured the sand bars and last night proved it. It was by far the best Surf/wind session this year.

Today/this afternoon is not quite as windy, But it should still be FUN. I should pull a down-winder to Delray and hook-up w/you. Perhaps this weekend.

[BigR]

Mike wrote:

Easy does it Rick, Lets not confuse the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic . The Atlantic is mild in comparison. I haven't the balls to Kite Tahiti. I saw a few pic's of a guy kiting Teehapoo and all I can say is WOW

I've seen it get ridiculously HUGE in Puerto Rico, 20 up to 40 feet, the 2nd deepest underwater trench is just north of them and it really builds up the
North Atlantic storms. Although, when I used to surf there when I was 18 y/o, I only went out in the more usual 6-10 footers . The one time I tried an +15' I got creamed on the bottom hitting all sorts of coral and held under for a minute or so seemed like a lifetime