Life or death in Asuncion

[rossman]

Wow! I just had an altercation with a very aggressive sea lion that scared the crap out of me. I was fishing in 100 feet of water off a high spot and all of sudden there was this big splash behind and to the left of me. I sort of turned and looked and then this sea lion started to try to board my kayak on the left side between my rod holder with a rod in it and my seat. Just about tipped me. I elbowed him in the ribs and he sort of slipped back into the water next to me. I gave him a good swat withe the rod I was holding and he swam under the kayak towards the front, circled and came back to the left side and launched himself, mouth wide open right at my effen face. I don't know if I got my arm up or how I repelled him but he did knock my glasses off, into the yak thankfully. He then went to the bow of the yak and started gnawing on it. It seemed life or death to me at that point and he was right in my wheelhouse so I took a full swing with my paddle and caught him right between the eyes and stunned the hell out of him. He laid motionless in the water for about a minute and then started coming around but not with all of his faculties. He did seem to think that he had enough of me and started moving away, and so did I. Discovered later that he actually broke the blank inside of foam grip on my spinning rod trying to climb on board. Man that spooked me.

So that this is in the correct forum, I caught 4 yellows this morning but all 10 lbs or less.

[cabojohn]

local thugs...way to smack em down. :D
glad yer okay Rossman.

[Dannowar]

Bastard sea lion!!! Way to whack em!!!

[Bert Vega]

Cant you just shoot them down there?

[makobob]

Cant you just shoot them down there?

ONLY with an illegal fire arm. Ross sorry about the rod, glad it turned out ok.

[EastLosYaker]

Wow, that's quite a story. What'd you do to piss him off so bad? Seem like those self defense classes paid off.

[ful-rac]

Is proudly brought to you by....Rossman.

"Remember, you didn't have a close encounter with a seal unless you elbowed it, in the ribs."



Wow glad everything is ok rossman! Sounds like an intense encounter!

[Mr Fishback]

Glad he didn't sink his teeth into you! Boarders... repelled.

[rossman]

I'm trying to figure that out. I had no fish on board. Had some snacks in the back but not sure he would go through all that for a snickers bar. Had to be some kind of territorial issue

Wow, that's quite a story. What'd you do to piss him off so bad? Seem like those self defense classes paid off.

[AngryTurtle]

Wow, that's quite a story. What'd you do to piss him off so bad? Seem like those self defense classes paid off.

I dont know about Seals, but some bears will figure out that a hiker is a potential source of food and act aggressively to get them to drop it and run off.

Perhaps this Seal has learned that by acting aggressive to a kayaker they can get fed.

[bolocop]

One word: Rabies!

[janines.fishtales@cox.net]

You guys know who I am talking about. The big guy with one eye that hangs out at/near the boat launch at SI. It seems he's gotten way more aggressive. I had to hit him with my paddle one day. Did't bother him one bit. I was scared $#!tless! Glad things worked out for you and you saved your glasses too. Good job on the yellows. Someone recently had a bucket list thread going on this site. Baja in a kayak is one of mine. As I read Mako's ene everyone else's posts, it makes it that much more enticing. Plus anyway, you guys need a girl (ok old lady) down there!

J

:cheers1:

[AngryTurtle]

One word: Rabies!

My Google research may have yielded the culprit! Does this guy look familiar?



http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_P4QHNryqqUM/TKRX1MZqQOI/AAAAAAAAAA4/aeyzlvVYeU0/s400/RABID+SEAL.jpg

[ful-rac]

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_P4QHNryqqUM/TKRX1MZqQOI/AAAAAAAAAA4/aeyzlvVYeU0/s400/RABID+SEAL.jpg

Wow that thing looks mean!!! Look at those crazy teeth!!!!


Oh and the seal....

[Zed]

Pix or gtfo.

[Zed]

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_P4QHNryqqUM/TKRX1MZqQOI/AAAAAAAAAA4/aeyzlvVYeU0/s400/RABID+SEAL.jpg

Wow that thing looks mean!!! Look at those crazy teeth!!!!


Oh and the seal....

Bonito

[danjor]

Maybe start carrying a kage for a last line of defense in a situation like that down there? I'm sure one good poke would send him running more than a paddle wack. I would rather have one of those than nothing in a situation where one is trying to knock me off my yak and bite me!

[katchfish]

Three words Guerro...

!El Louisville Slugger¡

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v461/katchfish/Mobile%20Uploads/image1_zps8d8898e9.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/katchfish/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image1_zps8d8898e9.jpg.html)

[HBOUND808]

Sounds like one pissed off sea lion, way to wack em!!!

[T-Rex]

Holey cow that must have been insane! Sounds like he may think twice before trying to board your kayak next time.

[FlyFishinYakr]

Just glad to hear you're OK!
Sounds like we need to "round up" some of the gang (would like to see him try to mess with Team Sewer) and head out and teach that seal not to mess with Kayakers :the_finger:
FFY :sifone:

[buddha]

I think this story needs to be put in a national fishing magazine or contact Paul Lebowitz and he can publish it in his magazine.

That is just crazy and I have never heard of a story like this anywhere regarding a sea lion where they were that aggressive.

When we were in Bahia Asuncion it seemed like the sea lions were more curious or actually kept their distance around San Roque.

[momo fish]

Wow sucks to hear and sure would make me bring something for protection...

When I fished bola.. We did have a male bull sealion charge at our panga as if to tell us to leave the area.. Very aggressive but we had a bigger boat and not much he could of done besides bark and charge the boat.. But this was Cortez..

[jorluivil]

Was it this guy?












































http://www.amusingtime.com/images/017/funny-seal-million-dollar-smile.jpg

[Amish Ed]

Man, glad you're safe Rossman. I hate Sea Lions! I'm always afraid I'll have a situation like yours.

[taggermike]

Glad to hear you're all right. Those dogs suck in LJ but getting bitten or hurt by one at an end of the road place like Asuncion could be life threatening. When you see how hard the big males thrash each other on their breeding beaches I doubt a man seated in kayak could swing a paddle hard enough to do any harm. Maybe Bring more than a paddle next time. Mike

[roby]

Hmmm...this smells fishy.
Sea Lion attacks kayaker? 4 Yellows under 10lbs?
Translation: It's beautiful here. I caught 4 Yellows - all over 40lbs.

Glad to see you made it out in one piece. Sea Lions scare me more than sharks or whales, especially at night. I had a Sea Lion almost jump in to my lap one time while it tried to bite the bait cage in my hoopnet.

[svendawg]

Three words Guerro...

!El Louisville Slugger¡

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v461/katchfish/Mobile%20Uploads/image1_zps8d8898e9.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/katchfish/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image1_zps8d8898e9.jpg.html)

You need one of those tire buddies. It's basically a short bat used to check tires on large trucks but it would be good for close in fighting.
after you knock it out you could finish it off with a kage

[StinkyMatt]

How did you get a hold of Tony's vacation photos?

:DMy Google research may have yielded the culprit! Does this guy look familiar?



http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_P4QHNryqqUM/TKRX1MZqQOI/AAAAAAAAAA4/aeyzlvVYeU0/s400/RABID+SEAL.jpg

[walrus]

Be careful, with red crabs everywhere, squid and bait fishes are fewer, the dogs will be a bolder. (Just look at the increases in malnourished sea lion rescues Sea World is making this past year) Be prepared to keep them afraid of humans.

Congrats on the fish.

[Cbad Mike]

Had some snacks in the back but not sure he would go through all that for a snickers bar.

Snicker bars are really delicious and in my opinion a hell of a lot better tasting snack than a Mackerel. :)

I'm glad you were only shaken and not hurt.

The pole that I keep my Gopro on is actually a photographer's mono pod. It is made out of aluminum and has a metal point on the foot of it. The point isn't sharp enough to pierce skin but I have given an over curious Sea Lion a good jab with it that sent him on his way.

:cheers1:

[Irishman]

Kage stick, Nuff said

[Pinhead]

Glad this story has a happy ending for you.

I have a small Mustad aluminum fish bat from WallyMart. I would think with that much aggression being demonstrated, a guy could justify putting some X's in a seals eyes. Or just send him on his way with a well placed gaff in his butt......sorry PETA supporters.

[beardedguy]

Aren't fireworks legal down there.
Maybe an M80 would do the trick.

[paddle man]

I'm trying to figure that out. I had no fish on board. Had some snacks in the back but not sure he would go through all that for a snickers bar. Had to be some kind of territorial issue

WHAT WOULD YOU DO FOR A SNICKERS BAR:boxing_smiley:

[addicted2sp33d]

Glad you're in one piece Rossman.