Close Call for Santa Barbara Fisherman as Shark Attacks Kayak

A kayaker came inches away from being wounded by a large shark, possibly a Great White, off the coast of Gaviota yesterday morning. The plastic kayak was chomped on by the shark but the fisherman inside Conner Lyon was unhurt.

He was about 500 yards off the coast and fishing with two friends who were in a kayak near by west of the Gaviota pier off Hollister Ranch.

Sea Lions were in the area along with squid fishermen.

Lyon said he never saw the shark prior to the violent attack on the front of his vessel.
“I just heard and felt this really really intense impact. It was just like this big slam. I saw the shark’s head emerging from the water with the front of the kayak in its mouth ,” he said.

He said the shark had a “a big wide open mouth and the top was a deep gray or a black. “

A friend, Mason Reepmaker saw it all from a short distance away, ” the next thing you know, there was a huge fin a dorsal fin, and then the tail came up. Then this huge black body thrashing around next to him. And then we said ‘Oh my God!”

Matt Maheri began paddling, “and we saw one of the (squid) boats was making a move over to him. They did not have it’s anchor down cuz they were looking for bait.”

Even with the close encounter “whether he thought I was prey or if he was just bummed, I was hanging out in his loctum I am not bummed he came after me,” said Lyon.

The shark bites are going to be investigated in order to learn more about this attack.

It was believed to be a a 13-foot shark based on eye witnesses.

Slideshow: Santa Barbara Fisherman Attacked by Shark