Shark experts caution people not to swim while they fish

ANNA MARIA ISLAND -- Hardly anyone ever gets bitten by a shark in Manatee County, protectively tucked below Tampa on Florida’s west coast.

At least that’s what the statistics said.

There were exactly four unprovoked shark attacks in Manatee County from 1882 through last year, a period of 128 years, according to the International Shark Attack File compiled at the University of Florida.

But shark lightning has now struck twice in Manatee County in the span of nine days, beginning with a 9-foot bull shark’s attack on spear fisherman’s leg that required roughly 700 sutures to close on Sept. 24 and, Sunday’s less damaging attack of a 5-foot shark on a rod and reel fisherman’s thigh.

These fifth and six attacks since 1882, both occurring off Bean Point on Anna Maria Island, have left the public wondering what’s got into the sharks after more than a century of passivity.

But a shark research scientist at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota and long-time local fisherman are saying nothing new has gotten into the sharks.

They say that the attack on the pair, who were both in the water while fishing, proves that people should not swim where they are fishing or where others are fishing, and especially at Bean Point, where the statistics may be thrown out the window.

A topography lesson

Bean Point, located at the northernmost tip of Anna Maria, includes in its underwater topography a distinct trough, or drop-off, where deep, dark water gathers, said fisherman Jimmy Malfese, who has lived on Anna Maria for 38 years.

“There is a deep hole at Bean Point that runs inside both the sandbars that run around the point,” Malfese said. “The sharks follow the tides and the bait fish in there.”

Depending on the tides, the hole can be up to 35 feet, Malfese said.

The water is cold. There are also ferocious rip currents as the tide rockets in and out. Sharks like it. Bean Point is a shark magnet.

Wickersham was spear fishing in the water at Bean Point. The second victim was waist deep at Bean Point.

East Bradenton shark fisherman Joe Resendiz has caught five sharks around Bean Point and, the day after Wickersham was bitten, he purposely went out there and hooked a large shark that snapped his 100-pound test line after a fight.

But just because Bean Point’s trough attracts feeding sharks doesn’t mean that’s why the recent attacks on humans occurred, said Robert Hueter, director for shark research at Mote Marine.

“If you look at both of these cases, there was some kind of fishing going on,” Hueter said. “Sharks are not wired to ask a lot of questions. They are successful as a predator because they pick up stimulus and react. They like to bite first and ask questions later.”

Hueter, who calls the recent attacks “a statistical fluke” believes that in the case of Wickersham, his spear gun created vibrations that attracted the sharks, which were already in an area they consider as a feeding ground.

In the second case, the fisherman dropped his chumming bucket in the water, putting scent in the water, Hueter said.

Despite making some questionable choices in the water, the fishermen still needed some bad luck to get bit, Hueter said.

“In 99.9 percent of these cases, the fishermen gets away with it,” Hueter said, specifically referring to the second fisherman who dumped his chum bucket.

“As far as regular beach goers, there is nothing to worry about,” Hueter added. “I just do not advise swimming in areas where people are fishing. By definition, fishing attracts fish, which, in turn, attracts sharks.”

Sharks are also attracted by jewelry in water and by “super bright bathing suits, especially contrasting,” Hueter said.

“Sharks are like birds on the trees,” Hueter said. “You don’t always see them but they are always there. The ocean is where they live. They are not interested in us. They are interested in fish.”

You will never catch Resendiz swimming in Bean Point.

Said Resendiz: “I know what is in there.”

Richard Dymond, Herald reporter, can be reached at 748-0411, ext. 6686.

This story was originally published October 4, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Shark experts caution people not to swim while they fish."