Last year, my brother Fred and I were surfing Salmon Creek pretty consistently on Sunday mornings through the summer and into the fall. In the absence of the occasional south swell, it really is the best break in the North Bay this time of year. The winds stay light while most beaches become wind torn, and the wave quality is high. However, the shark danger is real. In fact, the last time we were going to surf there, we ended up surfing Ocean Beach in San Francisco instead because conditions cleaned up at OB. It was a good thing too, because there was a great white attack that morning shortly after 9am, right about when we would have been getting into the water. It could have been one of us. https://www.sfchronicle.com/outdoors/article/As-shark-attack-survivor-waits-for-chewed-leg-to-16536426.php
This weekend I plan on going back to Salmon Creek for the first time since the attack. The waves are supposed to be good on Saturday morning. I wouldn’t dare surf there during the week, simply because there are less surfers in the water, hence the odds are worse. Also, I know there are lifeguards patrolling the beach during the weekends, but I don’t think they are there during the week.
Even during the sharkiest time of year, which we are now in, the odds of being attacked are remote. We are literally in significantly more danger driving to the beach than we are getting in the water. Still, there’s no doubt that the danger is real. Salmon Creek is at the tip of the Red Triangle, and the waters are well traveled between the Farallon Islands, where they breed and feed, and Bodega Bay. Last year I remember finding a seal carcass on the beach with a sharksized bite taken out of its side. We still surfed.
I’ve always enjoyed a little danger, and I’ve had several close encounters in the water. The first time I saw a shark I was snorkeling in La Jolla Cove with my girlfriend at the time. It was only about 5-6 ft, but we immediately swam for the shore. The most frightened I’ve been was at Ocean Beach when I was surfing with a friend and his board hit his face, resulting in blood gushing out of his nose. I made sure he was okay, paddled back out and the very next set I spotted a dorsal and tail fin swimming parallel to shore maybe 50 yards from me. I took the next wave in and made sure not to fall. I also saw one out at Fort Cronkhite not long ago. I took the next wave in again.
Fortunately unlike in Hollywood movies, sharks are not out to get us. While we do enter the food chain when we get in the water, we aren’t on their regular menu. Humans don’t taste good, we’ve got too many bones and not enough meat. When they hit us, they know it’s a mistake and typically let go right away. However, that initial hit can do a lot of damage and sometimes be fatal.
There are plenty of people who surf Salmon Creek on a regular basis, especially on the weekends. I’m not going to lie, I will be a little apprehensive when I get into the water this weekend. And I’ll be watching for fins. Plus, I’ll be on a bigger board. I just feel safer with more foam between me and Jaws.