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U.S.WEIRD NEWS

Great white shark passes close by kayak fisherman in Bay Area

The encounter off Half Moon Bay happened on a Sunday, with the shark approaching the kayak from behind before swimming off without attacking; the fisherman kept fishing anyway.

Photo: Great white shark
Photo: Pterantula (Terry Goss) at en.wikipedia · CC BY 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

At a glance

The real story

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What BBN said about it

  1. Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorA kayak fisherman off Half Moon Bay has video of a great white shark gliding right past him, and he says it came up from behind.

  2. Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorDavid Slavich says he got his rig up fast and braced for impact, but the shark swam on without attacking.

  3. Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorAnd a paddleboarder had warned him about a great white nearby before it showed up.

  4. Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorHe was warned. By a stranger on a paddleboard. And he stayed.

  5. Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorSeveral more hours, in fact. He kept fishing.

  6. Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorCommitment! Though his wife Andrea was asked if he could go kayak fishing again, and she said, quote, no.

  7. Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorOne word. The shark got a warmer review.

  8. Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorSmartest person in the story, and she wasn't even in the boat.

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From the archive: everything BBN aired on Friday, October 30, 2026 · the U.S. archive · all months