Possible GWS at N. Monastery

[Chuck Tribolet]

Could also be a thresher. I've seen them a couple of times in Carmel Bay.

7-8 feet would be a small GWS.

 

[dannobee]

Could also be a thresher. I've seen them a couple of times in Carmel Bay.

7-8 feet would be a small GWS.

That's what I was thinking, too. "Most" of the GWS in our area are big ones, 10-12 ft minimum. They must grow up elsewhere because there aren't too many sightings of smaller ones in our waters.

 

[El Dude]

IF it WAS A White shark: most White sharks, Carcharodon carcharias, are birthed in Southern and Baja California. They spend the majority of their time chasing small schooling fish just a few hundred yards from the surf zone in areas often as far North as Ventura and frequently farther North. Once they reach about 5-6 feet they expand their range further North and deeper, but they like to stay in warmer currents compared to adult cohorts so as to assit growth. Even then, they tend to stay deeper and follow schools of fish and squid so they don't get picked off near the surface by adults. That being said, it is an El Nino year and I would not be surprised if it turned out to be a juvenile swept North and upward in the water column by our freakishly warm currents this season. Just a thought after four years studying fisheries, including pelagic megapredators. On the thought of it being a thresher, I think that even a novice ichthyologist would have noted the heterocercal nature of the thresher's tail, after all it is what gives it that awesome hunting strategy...

 

[Gombessa]

On the thought of it being a thresher, I think that eve a novice ichthyologist would have noted the heterocercal nature of the thresher's tail, after all it is what gives it that awesome hunting strategy...

The description of what the observer said gives me pause. It almost sounds like she didn't know what a shark is:

After the dive she asked what kind of fish would be 7-8 feet big and have white gills. When they returned to the dive shop he gave her a fish ID book and she picked out the GWS.

From the way it was presented, I have to admit I'm a bit skeptical of the ID (with no offense to Brandon or any of the participants of the dive!)

 

[dannobee]

Watch it turn out to be a big harbor seal.

 

[mikemill]

Watch it turn out to be a big harbor seal.

harbor seal OF DOOM!

 

[El Dude]

The description of what the observer said gives me pause. It almost sounds like she didn't know what a shark is:

From the way it was presented, I have to admit I'm a bit skeptical of the ID (with no offense to Brandon or any of the participants of the dive!)

True. But I like to give the benefit of the doubt and assume SCUBA divers have least have SOME clue of what is in the ocean. I too am always a little skeptical, it's the hallmark of science.

 

[El Dude]

Watch it turn out to be a big harbor seal.

That's so d@mn funny!!!!! GWS=great white seal. That has got to be the funniest thing I've heard all week!!!

 

[Guy Alcala]

That's so d@mn funny!!!!! GWS=great white seal. That has got to be the funniest thing I've heard all week!!!

Cute, Furry, Death!
:homealone:

Guy

 

[kathydee]

The description of what the observer said gives me pause. It almost sounds like she didn't know what a shark is

Yeah that was my first reaction to the story too.

I really doubt anyone would see a GWS and ask what type of fish it is.