Down here in South Florida we're blessed with a large variety of "dangerous" sharks; most of them know shallow water inhabitants. Bull, lemon, hammerhead, various reef sharks and even the "cute" nurse sharks. They're fairly common on the flats and generally avoid you. Even better, the popular flats species for flyfishing are also the popular food of the sharks. Anybody seen the video on the web of the sharks eating the tarpon? Makes me think twice about targetting tarpon from my kayak!
http://www.gianttarpon.com/video.htm (click on the shark attack link for your speed)
We also have crocodiles in certain areas but they're pretty shy.
Still, it's the boaters that would make me hesitate about float tubing in the saltwater. Same as Deb, our boaters seem to target yakkers many times. Even in our "manatee" no wake zones. Not enough law enforcement to enforce it. The exception might be flamingo, lots of big, hungry things down there.
Now freshwater down here...I've seen some pretty big gators while kayaking, i think i'd think twice about a float tube. Sometimes the kayak doesn't sem to be enough!
Ken
-------------- Original message --------------
> Chris
> You had to read the whole thread. I'm not worried about the sharks here.
> We have makos, blues and brown sharks. I never see them where we wade and
> fish the shores. That doesn't mean they're not there but I don't think
> they would bother the fishermen. I wouldn't float tube around Block Island
> or down off Point Judith but I never see float tubers here in the salt
> anyway.
> The motor boats do have to give way to the kayaks but that doesn't mean they
> will. I kayak all the time and have grown up on the water paddling. If you
> choose either method in this location you take a risk because of the heavy
> boat traffic and the attitude they carry toward kayaks. I know they send
> their wake my way on purpose and I also kayak with a four year old in my
> boat. I've had other people with young children in their boat come within
> feet of me full throttle. They ignore boating safety so you must kayak
> defensively. I don't know if it's the sharks or the boats that keep float
> tubers out of our salt water. Each one probably has there own reasons. I
> personally wouldn't want to become a speed bump or a shark donut in the
> wrong place. We do have seals here also so I wouldn't want to come to close
> to imitating one.
> Chris we have surf here and we even have hurricanes. They do a pretty good
> job of wiping out a few fishermen and tourists each year. Ever see The
> Perfect Storm? We even have boogie boards and surfers here. You really
> should try it you might like it :) (just don't try it during a storm).
> Deb
>
>
