« Storms are on the way | Main | Hello Katrina »
August 22, 2005
East Hampton Star Reports Great White Shark
Photo: Stephen Frink
I was having dinner Saturday night with Mike, John and Paula. We ventured out to a new Japanese restaurant called Butai. It was a nicely designed, well lit, hip restaurant. I was thinking either it hasn't caught on yet, or it's just summer in the city and everyone is away. The food was pretty good, but I didn't really enjoy it as I was running a fever of 102. I was coming down with something and probably should have just canceled. But, I love hanging with those guys. Mike was sitting there, texting Rocco profusely while Paula serenading him with her new awesome national geographic gig- John turns to me and says "Hey, did you hear about the Great White Shark in East Hampton last week". I had not heard of any reports. It's crazy how everyone has been going in the ocean this summer, even those beach people who just sit, and rarely stick their feet in the water. Anyway, John proceeds to tell me about the story etc. Now, I know for sure that Great Whites don't frequent our waters. However, last year a hammerhead shark was spotted just off East Hampton and in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, a Great White found its way over a sand bar, trapping itself. Fisherman used nets to guide it back to sea. So, it is totally possible. Hey, there was even a dolphin the Hudson river a few years ago.
Now, According to the East Hampton Star, the Great White was seen hanging around a buoy. Lifeguards thought some kind of sea life was captured ( maybe a whale, turtle etc )and jet skiied out. The lifeguards on the jetskis approached and the Jet Ski was then pulled backwards "The Jet Ski is 900 pounds and it doesn't go backwards, and with the throttle [engaged]," said Mr. Ryan (the lfieguard), still amazed at the shark's power.
The shark then changed direction, causing the jetski to capsize, tossing the guards into the water. "We turned it over, but then it flipped again. We were lying on the bottom of it," Mr. Ryan said, "but we still had the tow rope and buoy." The shark continued to tow them on their capsized Jet Ski as people on the beach watched. "The whole beach started screaming," Mr. Ryan said."
I'm sorry, this is totally something out of Jaws. As some of you know, on Fire Island, if you head due East on the beach, you can just come short of the West Hampton Dunes. I find this all a little too close to home, but I'll still go swimming, just not as far out. Remember, the ocean is not our living environment, its theirs.
JR
Posted by Jeff at August 22, 2005 03:04 PM
Comments
I cant belive they come that close. that is scary..Feel better stud..
Posted by: Brad at August 21, 2005 06:13 PM
frea-k-k-k-k-y!!!
Posted by: Mark at August 21, 2005 11:37 PM
picture awsome....restuarant sound good too
good work
Posted by: jill at August 22, 2005 09:12 AM
zoikes! exactly why I dont like going in our murky waters.
http://www.robocub.spaceboystoys.com/blog/B1304607791/C1076358619/E20050713094638/index.html
And I agree with Jill, amazing picture.
Posted by: ROBOCUB at August 22, 2005 12:26 PM
The book Jaws was based on a reported rogue great white shark in the same area in the 20 or 30's. Perhaps history has a way of repeating itself.
Posted by: Pete at August 24, 2005 12:01 AM