It is midsummer here in New Zealand and time for the annual media frenzy around sharks. According to TV and press reporters great schools of ravenous sharks are cruising our coasts waiting to pounce on swimmers, fishermen and other water users and tear them apart in an orgy of blood-lust.
It is a load of bollocks of course, since 1852 there have been 44 recorded attacks, 11 fatal, and the last fatality over 20 Years ago.
But this story in the New Zealand Heraldabout a Mako shark “attacking” an outboard motor on a small boat was at least devoid of the usual sensationalism. For those of us who fished in small boats the sight of a shark approaching the outboard motor and sometimes ‘mouthing’ it is not common, but also not rare. I guess it has happened to me about 5 or 6 times in over 40 years on the water.
Theory is that a sacrificial block of aluminium attached to an outboard to reduce corrosion sets up an electro-magnetic current and field similar to that produced by fish in trouble. Sharks are keenly aware of any such fields and move in to investigate. ‘Mouthing’ the potential ‘prey’ is a common shark tactic.
While the situation is rarely dangerous, if you are in a tiny 12’ aluminium open dinghy, suddenly acutely aware there is only a few inches of free-board between you and the water, it can sure set your heart racing.

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