How to get a shark to attack?

Question

I'm doing some fieldwork study for my grad degree. I was wondering what is the best way to attract sharks and what is the best way to get them to attack?

Also, would anyone like to participate in my study. For participation you get a free sailboat and snorkling trip. I'm in the southern california area?

Answer 1

Haha. What a strange question. Dress up as a manatee.

Seriously, it depends on the species of the shark. Bull sharks will attack you if you do anything to them. But I doubt you'll come across any of those. Just throw some dead fish into the surrounding water, or make yourself bleed. They'll show up.

Answer 2

Provoking a shark to attact depends to some degree on what species you are targeting.  Mostly, you can count on something alive yet injured (bleeding) and therefore struggling to attract most species of shark.  You can target different species though with different baits.  For example, in California waters where there are decent seal/sea lion populations you can attract white sharks with anything that looks a seal on the surface of the water.  Though be warned, white sharks are notorioulsy cautious predators, far more so than most sharks.

EDIT: I already addressed white sharks, which you can find if you hit areas frequented by seals/sea lions...makos like tuna and other sport fish because makos are actually fast enough to catch speedy fish species like that....white tips and black tips are easily drawn in to chum and basic bloody fish bait. FYI black tips are significantly more active at night, though not truly nocturnal fish.

Answer 3

Hi Jamie,

Groundbreaking grad work!  I know that sharks are really attracted to the scent of blood, so, if you nic yourself a couple of time with a razor that would be good.

Also, maybe you could put some raw meat in your swimming suit.  I think that they would be attracted to the flesh.

As far as volunteers, I think that you can always find people willing to participate for not much money behind home depot and stuff.

Best of luck!

Answer 4

Do the opposite of what this site says.  ;-p

http://www.caske2000.org/sharks/sharks.h...

Attack Prevention

The risk of shark attack can be reduced in many ways:

        * Always stay in groups. Attacks more often occur on solitary swimmers

        * Avoid the water during darkness or twilight hours when sharks are most active and have a competitive sensory advantage

        * Do not wear shiny jewelry. It may reflect light in a manner similar to fish scales

        * Use extra caution when waters are murky or polluted

        * Avoid uneven tanning and bright colored clothing - sharks see contrast particularly well

        * Avoid swimming with an open wound or freshly speared fish

        * Avoid swimming far offshore, in channels, or over drop offs to deeper water

        * Avoid erratic movements and swim smoothly, especially if a shark has been sited

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/...

http://www.howstuffworks.com/shark-attac...

http://www.jawshark.com/how_to_avoid_sha...

Answer 5

smell of blood