New Smyrna Beach, FL

Check out the Orlando Sentinel article here

The teenager managed to punch the 4-5 foot blacktip shark before paddling to shore, where he received first-aid from a beach safety officer, and was sent to the hospital.

“He suffered pretty significant lacerations” to his left hand” – Capt. Aaron Jenkins, Volusia County Beach Patrol Spokesman.

We hope for the best for this young man’s recovery.

Now… in this case, I don’t think anyone can blame this 14 year surfer from Vero Beach. The waves looked amazing on Sunday. They still do in fact. But, in all honesty, this attack was very predictable.

A weekend full of tasty waves produced by hurricane Joaquin brings surfers from all over the state. This, all while the annual mullet run is in full effect. There is bait everywhere, the water is churned up from the waves, and now we have hundreds of other “things” floating around in the middle of them. An attack (a shark thinking your hand/foot is a fish) is bound to happen.

Be careful out there.