Posted on: Friday, July 1, 2005
Big Isle shark sightings prompt state warning
By David Waite
Advertiser Staff Writer
The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has issued an advisory urging swimmers, snorkelers and divers to stay out of the waters at Honokohau Harbor on the Big Island after receiving reports of shark sightings there in recent days.
Swimming in the state's small boat harbors and around various boat ramps is prohibited, although people familiar with Honokohau Harbor said it is not uncommon to see swimmers or divers ignoring the signs or to see sharks in the harbor, especially at this time of year.
Capt. Neal Isaacs, who operates charter fishing boats out of Honokohau Harbor, said he has not seen or heard about sharks being sighted inside the harbor in the past few days but that it would not be unusual for them to be there.
"Last year, there were a couple of tiger sharks, probably in the 1,000-pound range, that we saw in the harbor several times about this time of year," Isaacs said.
He said it is not unusual for fishing boats that catch skipjack tuna, barracuda or other species to clean the fish on the way back to the harbor and dump carcasses or other remains near the entrance to Honokohau Harbor, "even though they are not supposed to."
In addition, there is a fish weigh station near the mouth of the harbor and fish frequently bleed from the mouth or gills while they are being weighed, Isaacs said.
"And if somebody washes down the area after a fish has been weighed, the blood flows into the harbor and sharks are attracted that way, too," Isaacs said.
Other charter boat operators recalled seeing crew members of one boat "hand feeding" tiger sharks off the back of the boat over the past several days.
The alert that was issued yesterday by state officials included a reminder that discarding fish remains at near-shore and harbor entrance areas is prohibited under state administrative rules that pertain to harbors under the jurisdiction of DLNR's Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation.
Reach David Waite at dwaite@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-7412.
