Kayaking with Leopard Sharks at Drake's Estero

Glenn and Carol encounter leopard sharks in shallow water while kayaking at Drake's Estero July 25, 2009

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• SHARKS
• Drake's
• Estero
• Carol
• Glenn
• Kayak
• leopard

[Carol3rd]

What we saw with our own eyes was much more than you saw on YouTube. We watched them for over 1/2 hour. They bore the unmistakable marks of leopard sharks. You may not have seen the marks in the video, but we did in person. What do you expect from a cell phone? Further they are the most common sharks in Drake's Estero. They are not bulls or any other kind of shark.

[rcmallory]

Great Video! Much better than mine taken at the same spot 2 years ago. As of May 1, 2010 Drake's Estero is now a marine preserve, no fishing allowed. Leopard sharks move into warm shallow waters in mid summer and early fall, congregating for breeding. They are most likely feeding on shrimp, coming out of their burrows with the rising tide. I was at this exact spot last sunday, July 25,2010 with the Petaluma Paddlers, but only a few sharks and bat rays were spotted.

rcmallory

[Carol3rd]

@rcmallory

Thanks! It was our first trip there and we really didn't know what to expect. I was disappointed I ran out of memory, but at least I captured some of the best of it. We saw lots of bat rays that day. Thanks for the feeding info, and great news about the marine preserve. What does it mean for the oyster farm?

[NAURIS707]

Carol seems a bit weary . Are you sure those are leopard sharks? They look very dark.

[Carol3rd]

@NAURIS707

It was mainly for effect, really.

[vireogilvus]

Man, that's great!! I paddle there all the time, but never that time of year, usually Oct/Nov, and sometimes Jan/Feb. I almost always see them, sometimes in large numbers, but I have NEVER seen them so apparently tame. I have to wonder if they're all in a spawning group. Might have to get down there mid-July this year!!

[Carol3rd]

@vireogilvus I don't know if they were really tame. I think we were just sitting where they wanted to be.

[MrFisherman144]

Great video and some decent sized sharks to

[CelestialMare]

Hit them with your paddle O:

[chatnoir999]

They're leopard shakers. Harmless, really. They love to eat the small crustaceans and little fish in Limantour and Drake's Esteros that swim around the mud flats. Not interested in humans at all. They grow to lengths of between 4 and 5 feet.

[aviator259]

how do u know they're leapords, since u didn't see the, they can be any shark!!!

[witmde2011]

They were just a distraction while Jaws is checking you out from a distance. Hah

[Bigboy345ful]

Those aren't leopard sharks their bulls

[xxfinisherxx]

@Carol3rd how long were the leopard sharks?

[rcmallory]

Currently the oyster farm can operate in the special marine preserve under the terms of the lease. The lease expires in 2012, and the park and certain environmentalists want them out. Using the harbor seals, some of these influential people also want kayakers and hikers out - the area could only be open to scientists and the "keepers". Harbor seals have interacted with humans for at least 10 thousand years, and seem to be doing fine. Us kayakers should be prepared to lobby for our rights.