He may soon be in the market for a much bigger boat.
A California fisherman captured the heart-stopping moment he found himself face-to-face with one of the ocean’s most feared predators — a massive great white shark that made his 12.5-foot kayak look tiny.
David Slavich was kayaking off Half Moon Bay on Oct. 25 when the enormous shark surfaced nearby, bringing him so close that he could see directly into its eye.
Earlier that day, a paddleboarder had warned Slavich about a shark in the area, but he initially paid little attention to the report.
That changed when he heard an alarming “woosh” from the water while enjoying his time offshore — a sound that made it clear he was not alone.
“I look over my shoulder, and I see this massive, massive silhouette and the distinctive fin,” he told KRON 4.
“This is not a killer whale, this is not a dolphin, this is a great white,” Slavich recalled of the terrifying encounter. “Oh my God, oh my God, there’s a great white shark, oh my God.”
“There is this giant eyeball locking with my eyeballs,” he added. “It was one of the most surreal moments I’ve ever had in my life.”
Slavich told NBC that the encounter was “one of the scariest moments” of his life. He also said he no longer plans to fish alone, remaining constantly aware that sharks could be nearby whenever he is on the water.
“Every splash or seagull or anything while I’m out there, I’m hyperaware,” Slavich said.
Once the shark had passed, Slavich pulled up his fishing rig so it could not latch onto it and “braced for impact.”
Fortunately, the shark did not attack or make contact.
“I think my encounter really just proves that they are not interested in eating people,” Slavich told KRON4. “They are pretty curious … [but] that didn’t mean my heart wasn’t beating through my chest, because they can explore my leg a bit and I won’t necessarily survive that exploration.”
