Suspected Shark Capsizes Fisherman’s Kayak 1 Mile Off Cambria

Q: What really hit the Cambria fisherman’s kayak—and why do experts think it may have been an exploratory shark bite?

It has not been definitively confirmed, but the evidence points to a shark striking the underside of the kayak. The fisherman told authorities that something hit his kayak about a mile off Leffingwell Landing, knocking him into the water. He got back aboard, but the hull had been punctured and began filling with water, forcing him to swim ashore. After reviewing photos of the damage, Dr. Chris Lowe of Cal State Long Beach’s Shark Lab said it was reasonable to suspect a shark, based on the puncture pattern and the way the vessel was hit from below. Experts say it may have been an exploratory bite because white sharks are known to investigate unfamiliar objects in the water, including kayaks, without necessarily targeting a person as prey. California wildlife officials have said some shark encounters are best understood as investigative behavior: a shark tests an object with a bite or bump to figure out what it is. That helps explain why the kayak, rather than the fisherman, appears to have been struck. The location also adds weight to that theory. Leffingwell Landing has seen similar reports before, including a shark strike on a kayak in 2012 and another reported great white bite on a kayak in 2019. State records show 233 shark incidents in California since 1950, 36 involving kayaks or canoes, reinforcing that small craft can attract this kind of brief, investigatory contact.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 27

A California fisherman swam ashore unhurt after something struck his kayak near Leffingwell Landing around 9:30 a.m. Monday, throwing him into the water about a mile offshore.
Punctures in the hull let the kayak fill with water after he climbed back aboard and paddled toward land, forcing him to abandon it and swim the rest of the way.
Cambria fire crews launched a rescue boat after he reached shore and recovered the damaged kayak, fishing gear and personal belongings.
Photos of the damage led Cal State Long Beach Shark Lab director Chris Lowe to say a shark was a reasonable suspect, though officials said shark involvement is not confirmed.
Cambria has seen similar kayak strikes before, and California has logged 233 shark incidents since 1950, including 36 involving kayaks or canoes.