Food Chain Question

[LOLRuss]

Today it was utterly flat. Its flat all week. But, as I am going to SoCal in 10 days to surf whatever is breaking that won't break my neck, I went out today to paddle, do burpees and lunges... trying to keep in shape and improve my pop-up/strength/balance so I get more rides.

Anyway, I'm out paddling and... all the birds leave the water. There is not a bird anywhere within sight this side of the peer, and lots of them are circling/hunting. And we start seeing fish jumping. We see 2-3 foot wide rays jumping out of the water like crazy. And there are pretty big fish, up to a couple feet long, jumping out of the water. We saw maybe 20-30 jumps. One was a few feet away from me. At one point while paddling up and down the beach near shore, lots of tiny bait fish jumped up all around my board, which I've been told by guys not afraid of sharks is when its time to come in.

So my question is: was I just seeing Rays hunting, or was a shark around, and was I right to get out? Some tourists were totally unaware of all this, and having a ball.

[isaluteyou]

I always beleive in the idea that if you feel uncomfortable then its time to take a break out of the water. Wether thats due to big surf or just that nasty feeling you get "iam not alone" If you are on edge then you are unlikely gonna have an enjoyable surf session. I couldnt give a rats ass what people think the moment if i ever felt uncomfortable rest assured im out the water

[LOLRuss]

But, is that a legit reason to get out of the water? The presence of jumping baitfish, and jumping rays? I mean, does that indicate danger?

[LOLRuss]

P.S.

A P-51 Mustang was buzzin the peer and doing flips right overhead!

[justloafing]

I am not to familiar on how Rays act but if I saw 2ft. fish jumping out of the water. I would probably get out.

[waterdog62]

I've been in the marine industry...thus on the water all my life. I can tell you with certainty that anytime there is baitfish jumping it is not a good time to be floating on a board in the water. If you had scuba gear and was down deep that's a different story. Sharks attack from below and floating on a board you look like a seal in the water. The point being "Live To Surf Another Day". So yeah you did the smart thing, just because we surf doesn't mean we have to be stupid. The better choices we make as individuals the better it is for the sport. Two Thumbs Up!

[miamisurfer]

Yep. That was almost definitely a shark.

[spark6]

I would have gotten out just to get a better look at the P-51!

[LOLRuss]

I would have gotten out just to get a better look at the P-51!

Its pretty amazing to see what those hot rods can do compared to a cessna.

[parrysurf]

Sharks are my friends.......the kind of friend I don't mind not seeing.

I have gotten out cuz a bait ball was near by.....usually only at sharkey beaches.

Hey Russ, where in CA? I live in the Ventura area, if you are coming thru here, I could show you some spots. It has been ripping this week.....hope it keeps coming.

[Thibb]

I can tell you with certainty that anytime there is baitfish jumping it is not a good time to be floating on a board in the water.

Really? I had a day like that two weeks ago: just saw fish jumping out of the water all around. Strange, because it was the first time I saw it, but I didn't make any association with sharks. Ah well, nothing happened.

[libby]

Nah just sounds like a feeding frenzy. This time of year in fairly high latitude of the northern hemisphere you get massive spring blooms of phytoplankton, which are the base of the marine food web, these can be quite localised so that in one patch you will have a small bloom, attracting small plankton feeders, which attract bigger fish and rays and so on.

I've seen fish balling and leaping out of the surface on lots of occasions when doing various boat based research, sometimes because they were being preyed on and "herded" by dolphins and sometimes simply because they were feeding on a particularly rich patch of food.

The concentration of fish and rays may well attract sharks (although im no shark expert) so its probs not a bad thing to get out, but it doesnt necessarily mean there are sharks about. Get out and watch the spectacle, really interesting!!

[LOLRuss]

Nah just sounds like a feeding frenzy. This time of year in fairly high latitude of the northern hemisphere you get massive spring blooms of phytoplankton, which are the base of the marine food web, these can be quite localised so that in one patch you will have a small bloom, attracting small plankton feeders, which attract bigger fish and rays and so on.

I've seen fish balling and leaping out of the surface on lots of occasions when doing various boat based research, sometimes because they were being preyed on and "herded" by dolphins and sometimes simply because they were feeding on a particularly rich patch of food.

The concentration of fish and rays may well attract sharks (although im no shark expert) so its probs not a bad thing to get out, but it doesnt necessarily mean there are sharks about. Get out and watch the spectacle, really interesting!!

Wow. Post of the day! Thank you for this informed post!

[Jc]

I would have caught the ray inbetween my arsecheeks