Tuna fisherman’s close call with shark sends ripples around globe
A Hawaii fisherman has an unbelievable fishing tale: a close encounter with a 3m shark that jumped dangerously near his kayak. And, he has the video to prove it.
Isaac Brumaghim, 37, was kayak fishing off the Waianae Coast on Monday when the shark sprang up and chomped on the tuna he was fighting to reel in for a tournament.
‘‘ He exploded under my kayak, his dorsal hit my kayak,’’ Brumaghim said yesterday. ‘‘ It was like a rush.’’
Many thoughts ran through his head: fear, excitement and disappointment at losing a big catch.
‘‘ The shark scared me,’’ he said. ‘‘ But I really needed that fish for my job.’’
The next thought after the rush subsided: ‘‘ I hope I got that on camera.’’
He often goes fishing with a camera mounted to his kayak. At home, he watched the footage and posted it online, not expecting it to generate the attention it’s getting.
Reporters worldwide are calling. Many are still sceptical, accusing him of doctoring the footage.
The father of three is still in shock himself. ‘‘ I just have to laugh about it,’’ he said, hoping that the experience at least brings some attention to the growing sport of kayak fishing and Aquahunters, the company he runs.
The experience, he said, was a humble reminder of the creatures he shares the ocean with.
‘‘ You get the chills when it happens,’’ he said. ‘‘ But it never scares me from going in.’’