Kayaker Relates Details of Terrifying Shark Attack in Shelter Cove This Morning

Fish blood smeared around the rope that held the paddle

Fish blood smeared around the damaged rope that held the paddle. [Photo from Shelter Cove Fire]

This morning, a shark attacked a lone kayaker fishing in the waters off Southern Humboldt County

According to Cheryl Antony, spokesperson for Shelter Cove Fire Department, at 7:45 a.m., an emergency dispatcher sent her department to look for a victim of a shark attack in a kayak.

Antony said that they were able to see the kayaker sinking in the water quite a ways offshore “by the buoy.”

One of the department got on the radio and made contact with a nearby fisherman who rescued the man and his kayak.

Michael Thallheimer, Jr., age 40, from Eureka, said he had taken his pedal kayak out about 6:15 a.m. and settled in to fish near the buoy.

“I had caught two small ling cod and then caught a large one about 36 inches or so,” he explained. “I put it on my fish clip—I cut through the gills and it pumps all the blood out–as soon as I did that, it wasn’t 30 seconds after, that [the shark] attacked.”

One second, he said he was feeling good about his catch and the next…”boom!”

Hole in the side of the kayak

The shark bit a hole in the side of the kayak. [Photo provided by Shelter Cove Fire]

“All of a sudden, it was attached to the side of my kayak,” Thalheimer said. He described a 16-18 foot long great white shark with jaws locked onto his boat.

“I saw a nose and an eyeball with no soul,” he said. “That animal doesn’t give a shit…[The shark bit] right in the middle of the kayak directly next to my knee and thigh, about 6 inches away.”

Instinctively, Thalheimer said he struck back. “I slapped the thing as hard as I could on the end of its nose.”

Michael Thallheimer pointing to the punctures in his kayak made by the shark. [Photo from Michael Thallheimer]

Michael Thallheimer pointing to the punctures in his kayak made by the shark. [Photo from Michael Thallheimer]

The shark instantly let go. “As it started to turn, it whipped its tail real hard and hit the kayak,” he explained. “It gave me a good thump [but] it didn’t damage the kayak. I think he was pretty scared. He turned and split as fast as it could.”

Thalheimer said, with the kayak damaged and a shark in the water, he knew he had to get back to shore quickly.

“I was pedaling with my feet when I realized my paddle was not there,” he explained. He looked down and saw where the shark had bitten through the rope that held the paddle to the kayak. He circled back got his paddle and began heading as fast as he could towards the shore.

“I got maybe halfway back to the harbor [when] I could tell [the kayak] was filling up with water,” he told us. “I called 911. I told them I was taking on water and possibly could flip over.”

And, then, just what he feared would happen, did. While still on the phone with 911, a wave rolled the sinking vessel. “I flipped over and lost my phone,” he explained.

Now he was in the water with the shark.

He managed to flip the kayak back over and scrambled in but again and again the damaged kayak rolled over. “Every time I would pull it right side up, it would flip over,” he told us. Eventually, he got on top of the bottom of the boat and held on there for awhile. “It was rolling around freely,” he said. Eventually, he explained, “I got off and held onto the side of it…I was in the water maybe 15 minutes…It never left my mind the whole time that [the shark] might be going to come back. I had a freshly killed fish dangling around my feet because it was clipped to my kayak…I kept telling myself, ‘Be calm. Panic is not going to do any good.'”

Thalheimer did have a radio clipped to his life vest and he could hear that rescuers were trying to reach him. “Thank, God, someone is coming,” he thought. Over the radio, he learned the name of the local fisherman who had heard of his dilemma and was responding. “I kept saying, ‘C’mon, Cody!”

Hanging on to the kayak and wondering if the shark would return was taking a toll on him. “I was definitely cold [but] I was more shook than anything,” he explained. “I pretty much was uncontrollably shaking for half and hour or so [after the attack.]”

A fisherman brought the kayaker to shore. [Photo from Shelter Cove Fire]

A fisherman brought the kayaker to shore. [Photo from Shelter Cove Fire]

When the local fisherman arrived, Thalheimer quickly scrambled aboard and was brought to shore. He was checked out by medical staff and released with a souvenir of one of the caps the local knitting group makes to keep victims warm.

Thalheimer said he is both “relieved and bummering ’cause I lost my car keys and cellphone in the ocean…” And, he said, he had “remorse for going by myself and I knew better.” But, he’s glad to believe alive and grateful to those who rescued him.

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Eric Stockwell
Guest
3 years ago

Thanks for the quick reporting. Many of us who do ocean kayak fishing a lot have placed flotation inside of our hulls for incidents like this. I’m glad Michael is OK, and I’m glad he had a VHF radio and immersion gear.

local observer
Guest
local observer
3 years ago
Reply to  Eric Stockwell

“Along with him in his kayak is a GPS, VHF radio, cell phone, compass, two fog horns, a strobe, dive fins (for self-rescue), a harpoon, extra line, two tuna buoys and the 50-foot cable line they’re attached to, a bag of six ballyhoo, three army knives, two quarts of Gatorade, a lifejacket, a first aid kit, five flares, a pack of 5-Hour Energy drinks, a flashlight, hat, sunglasses, and sun block. He estimates he goes through six waterlogged cell phones every summer.” Dave added a pressure activated quick release to the fish tow after being followed by a great white while dragging an 80 pound bluefin to shore. If he was on this coast he would have thermal gear. ocean kayak fishing is not for slackers.

Industrial Disease
Guest
Industrial Disease
3 years ago
Reply to  local observer

“Dave’s not here, man.”

Buster
Guest
Buster
3 years ago

“Now, that’s funny right there.”

Mike
Guest
Mike
3 years ago
Reply to  local observer

Hell of a story. Glad you’re ok. No waterproof cases or floating phone case bags ? Ours are a life saver

R-dog
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  Eric Stockwell

When I was young I used to swim like a mile out to go abing them sharks never now when there going to show up I’m glad none did when I was out thare

Ilene Harris
Guest
Ilene Harris
3 years ago

Definitely a Memorial Day to Remember. Enjoy your fresh fish dinner. You are very lucky…

Willie Bray
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  Ilene Harris

🕯🌳It almost looks like the shark was going to have a fresh meal.🐸🌍🖖

stuber
Guest
stuber
3 years ago
Reply to  Willie Bray

This is why they call these kayaks shark skittles. I do not go on, under, or over the ocean. Boredom is survival.

QuarnJulios
Guest
QuarnJulios
3 years ago
Reply to  stuber

Living in fear is not living. Go for a swim, your more likely to get covid that get bit by a shark.

Gma
Guest
Gma
3 years ago

Wow. Glad he’s …ok. great writing kym.

Rickman
Guest
Rickman
3 years ago

So he kept the fish on the kayak the whole time ????

Bozo
Guest
Bozo
3 years ago
Reply to  Rickman

Sounds like he had the fish clipped on a rope (through the gills)… and probably in the water.
That’s what the shark was after. Kayak got in the way.

WTF
Guest
WTF
3 years ago
Reply to  Rickman

RIGHT??!!?

QuarnJulios
Guest
QuarnJulios
3 years ago
Reply to  WTF

A true fisherman. Bet those fish taste better tonight than he would have ever imagined.

Rob
Guest
Rob
3 years ago

Yum yum yellow. They like them yellow Hobies. Glad he is ok. A bilge pump may have come in handy for this.

Della Hawkins
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  Rob

I was out at Black Sand Beach on Saturday morning. I saw a shark in the surf.

Guest
Guest
Guest
3 years ago

A hair-raising story- enough to be a hit at any gathering for a lifetime. Glad it ended safely.

Nature red in tooth and claw
Guest
Nature red in tooth and claw
3 years ago

Dudes trying to be all poetic with ‘its got no soul’ shtick. Squeeze a bunch of blood in the water and hang the shark bait off your boat you get what you get…

Me
Guest
Me
3 years ago

“Dudes trying to be all poetic with ‘its got no soul’ shtick. “

You got any cool stories ?

Haters gonna hate

dont be a dick
Guest
dont be a dick
3 years ago

He’s just being descriptive, they have soulless eyes.

Cadence
Guest
Cadence
3 years ago

Seriously.

Mary Finelli
Guest
3 years ago

The fishes he caught (i.e., tortured) and killed may have thought the same thing about him. I wonder if he’s gained any compassion for his victims after this experience.

Tyler
Guest
Tyler
3 years ago
Reply to  Mary Finelli

Agreed. I doubt that he’ll give a second thought to his victims though, unfortunately. 😞

Johnny Boots
Guest
Johnny Boots
3 years ago
Reply to  Mary Finelli

Are either of you 2 vegetarians and also own zero products that have harmed animals in your lifetime? Didn’t think so, lay off the judgmental attitude.

Sharpie Ron
Guest
3 years ago

The second picture is deceiving….it is the bottom of the kayak. The large hole is where the Hobie peddle drive is inserted…thru the top. No water will leak thru this hole. The Hobie is peddled….not paddled. The paddle is used to start off and stop when leaving and entering shore
The first picture has what looks like a bite to the right of the bungee base….and maybe one more to the left.
Good job to all!

Nancy L Miller
Guest
Nancy L Miller
3 years ago
Reply to  Sharpie Ron

Pedal is the word they meant. Peddling is offering for sale. Yes, I am a retired teacher of English.

language matters
Guest
language matters
3 years ago
Reply to  Sharpie Ron

👍

Marc
Guest
Marc
3 years ago
Reply to  Sharpie Ron

Yes, but there does appear to be a hole in the hull to the left and slightly above the pedal drive through hole. The only way this thing could sink is if the hull is compromised, and even a small 1/2”-1” gash from a sharks tooth would do it.

Rick Markgraf
Guest
Rick Markgraf
3 years ago
Reply to  Sharpie Ron

Since you are in a correcting mood, the word is pedaled, or in some countries pedalled, not peddled, unless his yak was for sale.

Einsteinia
Guest
Einsteinia
3 years ago

What do you expect when you chum the shark infested waters with fresh fish blood!?

lauracooskey
Guest
lauracooskey
3 years ago

Fish after biting at bait: “I saw a nose and an eyeball with no soul. That human doesn’t give a shit…” All’s fair, i suppose.

Chuck U
Guest
Chuck U
3 years ago

This is what happens if you don’t stay in your house with the doors and windows locked.

Joe
Guest
Joe
3 years ago
Reply to  Chuck U

That’s funny!😂😂😂

Ralph S. Collier, Shark Research Committee
Guest

I would like to speak with Mike Thallheimer about his encounter today…..any contact information would be appreciated……Ralph S. Collier, Shark Research Committee……
[email protected] Second kayak incident in Shelter Cove in less than two years…….any assistance in this matter would be most helpful…..thank you..

Sunny Cosce
Guest
Sunny Cosce
3 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Great story, Kym! Do you have more information about the local knitting group, or how I could donate some hats to this program?

Puma
Guest
Puma
3 years ago

Reminds me of an incident myself, my now hubby, and our good friend had in shelter cove on Labor Day many years ago.
Kayakers abalone diving near the fish shoot ( not wise). Shark attacked one of the guys. Long story short we were able to get a local fisherman’s attention who then called 911. He helped us all out after we dragged the victim and his friend into our boat. Beach goers picked up our boat and carried it onto the beach Once we were close enough. The rescue ambulance was waiting. Amazing Shelter Cove locals! Not waters for the faint of heart for sure. Glad he’s ok. A near miss I’d say.

Wow!!
Guest
Wow!!
3 years ago

The shark was probably just as surprised as him.
Punching them in the nose is the way to go. Its extremely sensitive, think human private part sensitive.

Ok folks salmon fishing season started. Seals who like the salmon are closer to shore as the cute ass babies arrived a month or so ago. The sharks always come in closer during these times to go after the seals. This is the time to really think twice about going out especially alone, which he states he knew better.
Ive had some close calls swimming by myself in ocean. Learned the hard way but made it out.

Dude go get a massage your body is gonna freak for a bit, a true fight or flight response is at tiring on the body especially once you come down.

Paul Jensen
Guest
Paul Jensen
3 years ago
Reply to  Wow!!

We must remember that the shark would not have attacked if there wasn’t tons of blood in the water. It was there for the fish carcasses. If you slay a goat in the tundra of Africa, and then lay next to it for hours while it bleeds, your are going to encounter an aggressive lion. It’s no different with sharks and fish blood.
Remember to respect and be humbled by nature and not sensationalize attacks on humans.
I appreciate the factual reporting here.

MSmith
Guest
MSmith
3 years ago
Reply to  Paul Jensen

To assume the shark only attacked because of fish blood is not entirely true. Sure it increases the risk, but many surfers and swimmers get bit without any trace of blood in the water.

Tyler
Guest
Tyler
3 years ago
Reply to  Paul Jensen

“The tundra of Africa”??! 😂 I don’t think you know what “tundra” means.

CanYouSmellThat?
Guest
CanYouSmellThat?
3 years ago

In the upper right of the 4th picture..
That is a beneficial insect. Never kill them; they eat aphids.

https://www.sloatgardens.com/soldier-beetle-aka-downy-leather-wing-leather-wing-beetle/

(sorry about the shark experience.)

debilitated by the bite
Guest
debilitated by the bite
3 years ago

if thats a tick in the one picture, you gotta watch out for them too. Lymes disease is devastating

Joe
Guest
Joe
3 years ago

FUCK…THAT…SHIT!!!

local observer
Guest
local observer
3 years ago

if you think that is a tick, it is best you don’t go outside.

NoBody
Guest
NoBody
3 years ago

What a biting story!

Pew Pew
Guest
Pew Pew
3 years ago

If your going to kayak in the ocean i would recommend carrying a revolver of some sort. Stainless steal, or nickel so as not to rust. Always have a fren with you, preferably in a yum yum yellow yak.

local observer
Guest
local observer
3 years ago
Reply to  Pew Pew

losing a $900 revolver is always a smart move. what are you going to shoot, a seal?

language matters
Guest
language matters
3 years ago

peddle kayak = pedal kayak

peddling = pedaling

tomb
Guest
tomb
3 years ago

we’re gonna need a bigger boat—–

D
Guest
D
3 years ago

Them kayaks as it shows are pretty dam tough what a wild story and perfect ending shark happened to be that close right when blood touched the water good job Mike did everything he could and made it out without a scratch!!

Cy
Guest
Cy
3 years ago

Bro how’d you fit your balls in that kayak? Glad you made it out ok… Friggin crazy.

Mailguy
Guest
Mailguy
3 years ago

Did he save the fish

Poseidon Adventure
Guest
Poseidon Adventure
3 years ago

That’s at least three attacks in 27 years in a 30 mile stretch of the coast.
I wonder if it could be the same shark.
They live over 70 years.

8-12-93. At a place called X. About 18 miles south of Shelter Cove, near Juan Creek. David Miles taken head first abalone diving by a Great White and spit out. 100 stitches, head and shoulders.
Smiley face bitemark punctures from shoulder to shoulder through wetsuit.
Dive mask gone, probably saved him.
I was invited to go that day, but declined. Open ocean off a point,100 yards offshore. Too deep for me.
About 11 miles south of there, 11 years and 3 days later,. Randall Fry was decapitated at Kibesillah Rock by a16-18 Great White Shark.
That’s about 30 miles from Shelter Cove.
The only experience I have with one was off Shelter Cove about 18 miles tuna fishing about 25 years ago.
We were catching 35 pound albacore. I boated the first one, he ate the second one, and a few after that. They were getting snacked on right under the boat. He would just wait. You could see it under the boat when we stopped. We would take off for a bit, but he stayed under the boat. Everything looks bigger under water,
but he looked every bit of 15 feet or more.
Shooting once or twice commenced in the water with a .22 pistol to spook him, to no avail until after rapid consecutive shots, it left.

Now this guy.
Saturday the Sea Lions and seals were staying on the rocks or very close to shore in large groups flipper to flipper inside the breakers and wouldn’t budge.
We always said about diving, if the seals and Sea Lions wouldn’t go out neither should we.
May is pretty unusual for an attack.
It could be getting old, looking for easy prey.

Food for thought.

steve adams
Guest
steve adams
3 years ago

Not too surprised. Gray whales have been documented when beached to be mostly emaciated others found with marks of orca predation. When the top of the food chain gets hungry nothing is off limits.

Pacific is being impacted many ways including by continued radioactive water going into the ocean from 311 Fukushima Daiichi meltdowns. Plankton gets impacted according to old research from 50’s atomic tests. Have not read updates but if you lose the base of the food supply, the sun to biomass conversion its not all good. Continued illegal high level ionizing radiation dumping into the ocean can have an impact but Japan muzzled any of those media reports so they can still have the Tokyo Olympics. So there we have little to go on.

Met a deadliest catch skipper a few years ago who was getting out of the business. Said not enough fish to survive anymore. NOAA had disturbing news on a coastal annual netting check too. So fishing is seeing impacts too.

Data is important and citizen scientists can help.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/vanishing-marine-algae-can-be-monitored-from-a-boat-with-your-smartphone-2785190/

Finally, Hobies are not the easiest to dewater but there are systems to add electric bilge pumps and you can also add blocks of closed cell foam glued along the sides inside the hull, also shape blocks to go in the bow and in the stern.

Finally, looks like another year is starting with offshore algae blooms of new red tide have already been identified in the last month. Nature not only bats last but can get you. Stay vigilant and do be prepared in that yak. Maybe too save the fish cleaning for onshore.

And perhaps buy a SPOT with global rescue insurance.

Bender
Guest
Bender
3 years ago

………ooo0O(makin Chum?Ice chest for the fresh fish and clean them somewhere else?)

Otto Richard Weber
Guest
Otto Richard Weber
3 years ago

Here is a kayak story for you. I grew up in Topanga Canyon close to Malibu and have been sailing since I was five. In 1961 I joined the Malibu Yacht Club, built a Malibu Outrigger sailboat. The “Yacht club” was a property on the beach just south of the Malibu pier. We had a shower and a wood deck for cooking and that was our yacht club! We had our outriggers and a few catamarans We sailed a lot and partied as much as we could. Now to the Kayak story.

One of our members designed a ocean going kayak and started a company called OK Kayak. He really believed in the safety of his boat and one fine day paddled out from Malibu and headed north all the way to the
Bering Sea and back. No cell phone and no GPS. He proved his point and his company is one of the best. Dave really had some stories.

Scott ponek
Guest
Scott ponek
3 years ago

On a less scary note,a few years back out off of Stillwater Cove in my hobie,l had a big cabazon hanging off the side. I was jigging off the other side when all of sudden the back of my yak was getting pulled under. I turned around to see a big ol sea lion with my fish in its mouth! We locked eyes and I started giving lt the butt of my rod with all I could right in the head. He would not release! The struggle ended the sea lion won when the stringer finally tore through the gill plate. Got a limit of nice lingcod after that but I kept them on board! Learned the hard way! When your spear fishing you got no choice. That stringer is attached to you body. Swimming blood trail? If it’s your time ,it’s your time. Odds are much higher of getting taken out by a drunk driver. Glad this wild adventure ended well for Michael!

trackback

[…] “I slapped the thing as hard as I could on the end of its nose,” said Thallheimer to the Redheaded Blackbelt. […]

geoffrey davis
Guest
geoffrey davis
3 years ago

No soul? ever look a goat or better yet a Kangaroo … in the eye?….. Like lizards/reptiles….Sharks are from some other era. Sharks aren’t hoomans… Thank god!…
Glad your safe .

Mary Finelli
Guest
3 years ago

“’I saw a nose and an eyeball with no soul,’ he said. ‘That animal doesn’t give a shit'”

That’s probably what the fishes who Mr. Thallheimer caught thought about him. Science has shown that fishes are intelligent beings who suffer fear and pain. They deserve respect and compassion not gratuitous cruelty. All of the nutrients derived from fish can be obtained more healthfully, humanely, and environmentally responsibly from plant sources. Fishing isn’t sport, the fish are victims not willing participants. Needlessly harming animals for food or ‘fun’ or anything else is animal abuse.

Tyler
Guest
Tyler
3 years ago
Reply to  Mary Finelli

Exactly!

Kathryn Lezenby
Guest
Kathryn Lezenby
3 years ago

You were lucky, but the fish you caught were not, and I’m sure they were just as scared. Sharks kill prey out of necessity, but humans do it for fun. Yet you seem to see the shark as a monster without a “soul”. I hope that from this experience you might find fishing less fun.

Neo
Guest
Neo
3 years ago

I agree with you completely!

Paul
Guest
Paul
3 years ago

I’m glad Mr Thallheimer made it home safely. Hopefully he will connect the his fear and helplessness of being the prey with that of the fish he catches. They too feel fear and pain, and only want to be left alone. And unlike sharks, humans do not need to consume animals to live happily and healthily. Why not just go kayaking for the simple pleasure of being in nature?

Trinity
Guest
Trinity
3 years ago
Reply to  Paul

Absolutely!

My cat is better than you
Guest
My cat is better than you
3 years ago

He kills fish for fun, yet wants us to feel sorry for him when a fish goes after him? Nope. Karma.