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Could a Tuna Fish Actually Kill a Human?

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Fishing is a benign activity––most of the time. Sunburn or a hooked finger aside, anglers usually have little to be concerned about.

That’s not true, though, for people who fish for certain types of deadly fish or in some of America’s most dangerous fisheries. Every year, some anglers are killed by these fish, or they come back to suffer from their wounds after they drown, hit rocks, are struck by lightning, or are hurt in boat accidents.

See if you’re putting your life at risk by fishing for these dangerous species or in the U.S.’s most dangerous waters.

Tuna are one of the oceans’ most powerful predators, Their muscular bodies and razor-sharp teeth make them a formidable force underwater This raises an interesting question – do tuna pose any real physical threat to humans who cross their path? Could an angry bluefin tuna actually kill a person?

The Power and Size of Tuna

Let’s start by looking at why tuna have the potential to be dangerous. Some key facts about tuna include

  • Tuna are apex predators with very few natural enemies. They are used to dominating their environment.

  • Certain species like bluefin tuna can reach lengths over 10 feet and weights over 1,000 pounds

  • Their streamlined bodies allow them to slice through the water at speeds over 40 mph.

  • Sharp retractable fins and powerful crescent-shaped tails provide thrust and maneuverability.

  • Their jaws are lined with pointed teeth designed to pierce and grip slippery prey.

This combination of size, speed, and natural weaponry makes tuna well-equipped for offense.

Documented Tuna Attacks on Humans

There are a handful of isolated incidents where tuna have exhibited aggressive behavior towards humans:

  • Fishermen have been bumped or rammed by large tuna, especially when reeling them in on rods or lines.

  • Bluefin tuna have breached fully out of the water and landed on small fishing boats, injuring the occupants.

  • There are rare reports of tuna biting swimmers and divers, usually when provoked. The wounds required medical treatment.

  • Large schools of frenzied tuna have been known to capsize small vessels when behaviorally triggered.

So while rare, tuna are capable of inflicting bodily harm on humans near the surface through blunt force or bite wounds.

Could a Tuna Kill a Human Through a Direct Attack?

It’s highly unlikely a tuna could directly kill an adult human being. Here are some mitigating factors:

  • Most documented attacks involve bumps and collisions rather than prolonged contact.

  • Tuna lack the razor-sharp teeth and mouths of sharks designed to tear flesh. Their jaws are built more for gripping than slicing.

  • Humans on the surface may be able to fend off any direct attack from a tuna using their limbs.

  • The thick wetsuit and SCUBA gear worn by many divers provides protection from bites.

  • Attacks almost always occur when humans encroach on tuna territory or schools. Avoiding close interactions mitigates risk.

So while tuna have the potential to injure, their physical attributes and behaviors make direct predatory killing of humans highly improbable.

Indirect Dangers Tuna Can Pose to Humans

However, it’s worth noting there are some indirect ways a huge tuna could theoretically contribute to a human fatality:

  • A large bluefin tuna weighing over 1,000 pounds breaching onto a small boat could crush a person with its bulk.

  • Tuna ramming behavior could potentially knock someone off a boat and lead to drowning.

  • Severe tuna bites often require urgent medical treatment to avoid infection or loss of blood. Lack of care could result in death.

  • Tuna prey like sharks and marlin often follow tuna schools. This could indirectly expose people to even greater risks.

So while a direct predatory attack is unrealistic, freak accidents initiated by tunas could hypothetically lead to loss of human life in the rarest of circumstances.

Key Takeaways on Tuna and Humans

To summarize the key points:

  • Tuna are highly unlikely to intentionally prey on humans or view them as food.

  • Serious direct attacks involving bodily harm are extremely rare due to tuna behavior and physiology.

  • The vast majority of tuna and human interactions result in no harm to either party.

  • Simple precautions like avoiding touching tuna and giving them space substantially reduce any minimal risks.

  • The awe-inspiring power and size of tuna should still be respected by all ocean goers.

So while tuna deserve a healthy degree of caution and respect, there’s no reason to live in fear of our torpedo-shaped friends of the deep. With prudence and understanding, humans and tuna can safely share the awe-inspiring marine domain.

can a tuna fish kill a human

Surprisingly Dangerous Fish Species Around the World

can a tuna fish kill a human

Nothing strikes fear in the hearts of offshore anglers like a wild wahoo loose on the deck. With teeth like a band saw and jaws that close like a pair of scissors, a wahoo can do some serious damage with little effort. “Wahoo will tear you up,” says Captain Jimmy Hillsman (outerbanksfishingschool.com). “They’ll actually make an effort to bite you.” Hillsman makes it a point to get two gaffs in a big wahoo before carefully lifting it out of the water and into the box. “They go wild when you put a gaff in them,” he says. “Jumping off the gaff then thrashing around the deck swiping at people’s legs and feet.” Even with the fish in the fishbox, the danger isn’t over. “Most people get bit trying to get their hook back,” Hillsman says. “I don’t even worry about the hook until we get back to the dock.”

Location: Oregon Inlet, North Carolina.

Season: April through October.

Wahoo are aggressive feeders that will hit almost any bait in the water. To catch these fish, fishermen will use a dark purple Marauder or a black and red seawitch/ballyhoo combo behind a planer. Look for wahoo around the bluewater wrecks and reefs that they call home.

can a tuna fish kill a human

Jack Crevalle has the intimidating grimace and squished nose of a seasoned boxer. His face is ready for a fight. When an angler gets into a fight with one of these fish, they usually end up with bruised egos and guts. A Virginia fisherman named Ken Neill has fought many big crevalle and says, “They’re a mean and naughty fish.” Jacks will not only attack any bait that gets in its way, they will use all their strength to fight until the end. “They don’t give up,” Neill says. “They fight until they have nothing left. As the fight goes into the last few rounds, Neill says the fisherman usually feels drunk from all the punches. “They’re definitely one of the hardest fighting fish in the ocean. ”.

Location: Virginia Beach, VA.

Season: August through October.

Tackle and tactics: Schools of big crevalle jacks show up off Virginia Beach each fall. While trolling at six knots with a Huntington Drone spoon or Rapala plug, the fish will bite. But the best way to catch one is to drop a live bait into the legs of Chesapeake Light Tower. “They’ll take a live croaker any day,” Neill says. “But they are a beast to get off the tower legs.” ”.

can a tuna fish kill a human

Cobia are curious creatures. They will often swim right up to the boat and eat whatever bait they are offered. But that’s where the curiosity ends and the dirty tricks begin. “No two cobia fight the same way,” says Captain Troy Crane (maraudersportfishing.com) – a nearshore fishing specialist out of Pirates Cove, North Carolina. Crane says that cobia will pull every trick in the book from charging the boat to spooling a reel. Even after a big cobia is on the deck, the fight is not over. “They flat-out tear stuff up,” Crane says. “I’ve seen them throw coolers, break fishbox lids, jump off the gaff, we even had one fish smack an angler in the chin and knock him over.”

Season: May through September.

Location: North Carolina’s Outerbanks oceanfront.

Tackle: Heavy spinning gear, 65-pound braided line, 2-ounce bucktails

Techniques: On bright sunny days, Crane cruises the beach sight-casting to marauding cobia. When it’s dark and it’s hard to see, he can anchor up and set out a chum trail to attract fish to his live bunker and bluefish baits.

As host of the television program, Hunt for Big Fish, Larry Dahlberg (huntforbigfish.com) has traveled the globe looking for the biggest and meanest fish that swim. He found just such a fish 250 miles up the Corentyne River in Suriname. When Dahlberg hooked the giant catfish, it almost pulled him out of the boat. “It felt like I was hooked to a submarine,” he says. “The fish turned the boat around and started to drag it backwards.” Dahlberg had to muscle the fish to keep it out of the sharp rocks at the bottom of the river. “I was seeing spots in my periphery,” he says. “I was totally falling apart.” The catfish measured over eight-and-a-half feet long with a 46-inch girth, which puts its weight at well over 400 pounds. “It was like being in a wrestling ring with someone twice your weight,” Dahlberg says. “That fish hurt.”

Location: Corentyne River, Suriname.

Seasons: Rainy season when the river is high enough for a boat to reach the fall line.

Techniques and Gear: Dahlberg never knows what he’ll find when he goes fishing for big fish, so his gear needs to be light and flexible. He uses a light, strong Trevally Jigging Rod with a 130-pound test Suffix line wound on a Shimano Torsa reel. Combining 80 pounds of drag with a virtually unbreakable rod means something has to give. “The fish almost yanked me out of the boat,” Dahlberg says.

can a tuna fish kill a human

After a fish is hooked, it usually tries to bulldog away. But most fish aren’t 800 pounds with a mouth full of razor sharp teeth. Not only are mako sharks big and mean, but they can swim up to 60 miles per hour and jump almost 20 feet in the air. Captain Devlin Roussel (reelpeace.com) has had the table turned on him by an angry mako. One nine-foot mako decided that it was not afraid of a couple of people standing in a boat holding sticks. After Devlin hooked it, the fish swam up to the boat and rolled on its side. “I think he was sizing us up,” Roussel says. Next, the 500-pound fish started to chew on Roussel’s propeller. The captain threw the boat into gear to escape the attacking fish. “The shark was trying to jump into the boat,” he says. “I think it wanted us as bad as we wanted him.”

Location: Midnight Lump, Venice Louisiana.

Season: January and February.

Roussel never knows when he might catch a big mako, so he always has a pitch rod with 30 feet of 700-pound aircraft cable and a 12/0 Mustad 7691 stainless steel hook on it. He flips a bonita tuna over and drops it back on the rig when a shark comes up to his bait.

can a tuna fish kill a human

In the Native American Ojibwe language, the word Muskellunge means “ugly pike.” But for Chae Dolson (websterlakeguideservice.com) and other anglers on Indiana’s Webster Lake, muskie are the prettiest fish that swims. “There is no finessing a big muskie,” Dolson says. “If they strike the lure and miss you have to speed it up and work it harder.” Dolson has had muskie attack his lure four or more times before taking the hook. “A lot of times, they’ll chase it right up to the boat,” he says. Muskie aren’t very pretty up close, though. “Their teeth are like double-edged knives,” he says. “One shake of the head and they can cut you to the bone.”

Location: Webster Lake, Indiana.

Seasons: May through June; September to November.

Tips and Techniques: Muskie are famous for following an angler’s bait right up to the boat. Dolson rapidly moves his lure in front of the muskie in a figure-8 shape to hook it up close. “For some reason they prefer to eat at the boat,” he says.

can a tuna fish kill a human

In the contest for meanest fish in the ocean, Larry Dahlberg votes for the giant trevally. In his travels as host of the television show, Hunt for Big Fish (huntforbigfish.com), Dahlberg has run into plenty of GT’s. The first GT Dahlberg hooked on light tackle spooled his reel and busted his rod. “After running 150 yards, the fish was still accelerating,” he says. “The line broke with such force that it straightened the guides on the rod.” Not one to admit defeat easily, Dahlberg returned with a new rod and heavier line. The next fish he hooked didn’t get a chance to run. “I clamped down on the drag and pulled the fish into shallower water.” Unfortunately for Dahlberg, GTs are as good at hand-to-hand combat as they are at breaking fishing equipment. “When I tried to grab the fish, it kicked so hard that it cut a whole in my glove and took off.”

Location: Seychelle Islands.

Season: Year Round.

When Dahlberg sees a big GT cruising the flats, he uses a big topwater teaser to get the fish’s attention. Then he throws his fly in front of the fish. “GT’s are beasts,” he says. “It’s like snagging a school bus, they just turn around and leave. ”.

can a tuna fish kill a human

Anglers targeting Pacific ling cod follow the old adage: big baits equal big fish. “Ling will eat anything smaller than their head,” explains northern California ling specialist Sean White (gwkc.com). And these fish have a huge head full of needle-point teeth. Although bouncing big jigs will produce big ling, White says that he catches the biggest fish while he’s targeting rockfish. “I’ll be hooked up to a rockfish and a ling will grab onto it and not let go.” The ling are so aggressive- and stubborn- that they will hold on to the rockfish until White can land both fish. “If you’re lucky you get a nice rockfish and a big ling, too” he says.

Location:Mendocino County, California

Season: Year round.

Tackle and Techniques: Sean White prefers to chase ling and other fish from a kayak. “There are only a few boat ramps in our area,” he says. “But there are a zillion places to launch a kayak. ” Of course, landing a toothy fish in a little kayak doesn’t leave room for negotiating. He says, “I get a good gaff shot in the head and then beat the tar out of it with a fish bonker.”

can a tuna fish kill a human

No question that sharks are mean and nasty critters and the meanest and nastiest of them all is the bull shark. Blame it on testosterone. Bull sharks have more testosterone pumping through their veins than any other animal on the planet. “Bull sharks are just plain nasty,” says pro backwater-guide Captain Ken Collette (kencollette.com). Since Collette’s favorite pursuit is targeting big sharks with fly tackle, he has picked plenty of fights with some seriously nasty bullsharks. “They will bite everything,” Collette says, and his flats boat has the battle scars to prove it. One bull chomped on Collette’s boat leaving gouges from its top teeth on the gunwale, and from it’s bottom jaw on the chine. “That’s 16 inches apart,” Collette says.

Season: December through June.

Location: Flats of Biscayne Bay.

Tackle and Technique: Big flies for big sharks. Collette uses 9- to 12-inch pink and white flies. Chum is the key, so Collette deploys a scent trail of fresh ladyfish, barracuda and tuna. Collins says, “You see sharks coming like the house is on fire. There’s no doubt what’s on their minds.” ”.

can a tuna fish kill a human

Hunt for Big Fish television host Larry Dahlberg ( target=”_blank”>huntforbigfish.com) describes African tiger fish as “fighter planes with food processors on their face.” Resembling a striped bass with a mouth full of ice picks, tiger fish have some of the nastiest choppers in nature. “A three-pounder could take your ring finger off in one snap,” Dahlberg says. He explains that there is a reason that these fish have developed such a mean disposition. “In Africa a year of drought might mean a weak year-class of baitfish,” Dahlberg explains. “So tigerfish may have to eat other fish that are two-thirds their own size.”

Location: Zambezi River, Africa.

Season: Rainy Season.

The best way to catch a tiger fish is with a spoon or topwater plug that has been beefed up, but Dahlberg likes to use fly tackle to trick them. He uses a sinking line, wire leader, and five-inch Dahlberg Diver. “Move the bait fast and erratically so that it makes a wonk, wonk, sound,” he suggests.

can a tuna fish kill a human

Larry Dahlberg (huntforbigfish.com) calls freshwater wolfish the most underrated gamefish on the planet. “They jump like demons, take flies and topwater poppers, and they’re just plain vicious,” he says. The reason these fish don’t get the attention that they deserve is that freshwater wolfish live in the deepest darkest swamps of the Amazon. “They have real nasty, wolf-like teeth,” he continues. “I’ve seen one eat a four-foot iguana.” To catch them, Dahlberg wades around the muck working a big topwater popper. “You have to cast ahead of yourself,” he says, “if you wade through the fish they will eat you.”

Location: French Guyana/Suriname.

Season: Dry Season.

Gear: Dahlberg brings a medium Shimano Curado combo with a bowling pin-sized popping plug with him when he goes into the swamp to look for wolfish. He cautions anglers to handle these fish with extreme caution. “When you release a wolfish, be sure to throw it away from yourself,” he says. “Otherwise they will turn around and take a chunk out of you. ”.

can a tuna fish kill a human

Marlin weighing over a thousand pounds are big fish in a big pond. Only a handful of granders have ever been caught on the Atlantic Coast and last summer the crew of the charter boat Swordfish (swordfish-obx.com) added to that number off Oregon Inlet, North Carolina. Captain Jimmy Hillsman (obxfishingschool.com) was working as a mate on the boat when the big blue marlin came knocking. Hillsman recalls that the fish first attacked their dredge, then the teaser, and then the dink bait before co-mate Austin Robin deployed a pitchbait. “The bait went down the hatch, the fish was on, and the rest is history,” Hillsman says.

Billy Landes fought the fish for three hours, and then Hillsman, Robins, and Captain Justin Ringer pulled it into the cockpit. “It’s bill was in the salon and the tail was hanging out the tuna door,” Hillsman recalls. The 1077-pound marlin was caught at the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center. It was only the fifth largest fish caught with a rod and reel off the East Coast. But a marlin doesn’t have to weigh a thousand pounds to do some serious damage. Hillsman says that professional mates have so much respect for these fish that few accidents ever happen. “You have to pay attention all the time or they’ll get you,” Hillsman says.

Location: Oregon Inlet, North Carolina.

Season: May through September.

Rods and reels: Bigger marlin only show up once every blue moon for anglers on the Atlantic Coast, but crews are always set up and ready when their time comes. If a big marlin shows up in the spread, Hillsman has a Tiagra 80W combo ready to go. It is set up with a cable leader and baited with a Moldcraft chugger and horse ballyhoo. “You never know what you’ll see out there,” Hillsman says. “So you have to be ready for everything. ”.

can a tuna fish kill a human

Ask any angler on the Atlantic Coast about mean and nasty fish and he’s likely to tell you about bluefish. With a sleek powerful body and teeth that cut like a Cuisinart, not much escapes the path of a hungry bluefish. Kevin Whitley (kayakkevin.com) is a pro kayak angler who has dealt with everything from small blues called tailors to larger fish known as choppers in his little, plastic boat. “They’re really frightening,” Whitley says, “I’ve had them bite my nuts and latch on.” He had to use a pair of pliers to remove the fish. But Whitley blows off the incedent, “Luckily it was just a little one,” he says. Whitley runs into bigger blues while trolling in the ocean for striped bass. “It’s a hell of a surprise when you think your fighting a striper and a big blue comes up out of the water with its jaws chopping,” Whitley says, “Those teeth would castrate you.”

Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Season: April to December.

Tackle and Tactics: Whitley catches smaller bluefish on 3/8 to . 5 ounce jigs sweetened with a Gulp jig tail. Bigger fish fall for big plugs and spoons trolled at a couple of knots along the oceanfront.

can a tuna fish kill a human

Barracuda are the arch-enemy of anglers fishing along the Florida Keys. According to Key West guide, Frank Piku, (captainfranksfishingcharters.com) barracuda are famous for stealing fish off a fisherman’s line. With a body shaped like a bullet train and a mouth full of the sharpest teeth in the ocean, barracuda will make quick work of a fisherman’s catch. Piku has run into his share of mean and nasty ‘cudas. “Once we caught a four-foot barracuda and released it,” he recalls, “and it came right back and kept eating the yellowtail we were catching.” The biggest barracuda that he ever crossed paths with was off the Bahamas. Piku was fishing for grouper when he caught a huge ‘cuda that he estimates weighed more than 100 pounds. “The guide is five-feet, eight-inches tall and he was holding the barracuda by the gills and the fish was a head taller with it’s tail curling on the deck.”

Location: Florida Keys.

Season: Year Round.

Tackle and Techniques: Although Piku tries to avoid catching barracuda, sometimes his clients are just too curious. So, he hooks a blue runner on a king rig consisting of two #4 treble hooks on #5 wire and drops in front of a marauding ‘cuda. When these fish are in the water, Piku tells his customers to quickly reel in their catch or the barracuda will get it.

can a tuna fish kill a human

From head to toe, bluefin tuna are nothing but muscle. When a bluefin unleashes that muscle against an angler half it’s size, the result can be painful. Captain Joe Shute (captjoes.com) knows all about the pain, he targets bluefins off Cape Lookout, North Carolina in a 22-foot Parker. “I’ve seen a bluefin kick a big guy’s ass in 15 minutes,” he says. With all that power, there is no way a mere mortal can beat one of these giants. “Let the harness, rod, and drag do the work,” Shute says. A big bluefin will drag Shute’s small boat up to three miles from where the fish was hooked. “You have to make the fish earn every inch,” he says. “If you try to fight them they’ll kill you.”

Location: Atlantic Beach, North Carolina.

Season: December and January.

Tackle and Strategies: A big bluefin tuna can damage even the strongest tackle and stand-up harness (straps). Shute has a Tiagra 50 with 100-pound braid wound on it and a 130-pound test Momoi Diamond leader on top for a 100-yard shot. Shute tries to keep the boat on top of the big bluefin when it’s on the line. “We’re usually fishing in 60 feet of water, so the tuna can’t run down,” he says.

The Six Deadliest Fishing Waters

Six fisheries stand head-and-shoulders above the rest for sheer, unmitigated peril. Each has unique hazards that set it apart and qualify it for Deadly Water status.

Find out if you fish where one misstep or stroke of bad luck can cost you your life.

Sailors call the mouth of the Columbia River “the graveyard of the Pacific. ” A better name might be “salmon fisherman’s nightmare. “The strong current of the river meets the swells in the ocean caused by the wind, creating huge waves that can flip boats over or strand them. Unfortunately for fishermen, the roughest waves happen on the side of Buoy 10 that faces the water. This is in the middle of one of the best salmon fisheries in the Pacific Northwest.

Terry Rudnick, a boating information specialist for Washington State Parks, says, “A lot of people have gone out to fish the bar because of the big salmon runs the last few years.” “A lot of those people have no business being out there. ”.

Around 500 small boats, such as seaworthy cruisers, johnboats, and rubber dinghies, work the estuary when the salmon are running. When the waves kick up, weak boats suffer.

During a six-week period in 2001, the local U. S. Coast Guard station responded to more than 300 calls for rescue. Thirteen boaters lost their lives.

“On one hellacious day, we had two accidents with three fatalities,” Rudnick recalls. “Two boats got into the surf at Peacock Spit, tried to turn around and were capsized. ” The worst conditions occur when the tide ebbs and a strong wind blows in from the west. The wind is coming in at 25 to 30 miles per hour, and a lot of water is rushing out. This causes huge waves, says Rudnick.

When offshore anglers try to get back into the river, the line of rollers that forms across the bar often gets in the way. “Ten- to twelve-foot swells aren’t unusual, and it all looks the same from the outside,” Rudnick says. “It’s easy to get misled out there. ”.

For fishermen, the Great Lakes have a lot of room to get into trouble. They cover a total area of 94,250 square miles. And with nearly 34 million people living along the lakes’ shores, plenty of anglers do exactly that. Last year alone, Coast Guard crews dashed out to execute 6,887 rescues on the five lakes.

LTJG Ron Kooper, who works for the Coast Guard in Sault Sainte Marie, says, “Fishermen need to respect the lakes because they can kill you in so many ways.”

Weather accounts for most of the damage.

“We’ll get some pretty good storms on the lakes,” Kooper says. “And a lot of them aren’t forecast.”

That is, storms can seem to come out of nowhere, like the famous “white squalls” that sometimes break up the calm of summer.

As Walter Hoagman, an extension agent for the Michigan Sea Grant, steered his 24-foot cabin cruiser across Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron in July 1995, a storm hit. In a written account of the event, Hoagman said, “The sea ahead became suddenly flecked with white, as if a huge school of fish were thrashing the water.” “The white zone barreled down on us at amazing speed. Before Athelia (Brackett’s “wife”) could even slow down, the white zone swept by us, and no matter what she did, the bow violently swerved off course. ”.

The Hoagmans had to deal with strong winds of 80 miles per hour and 12-foot waves that were crashing over like Christmas trees in a matter of minutes. After three scary hours, the storm stopped, and the couple kept going to Tawas Point, thankful that they were still alive.

Most Great Lakes storms aren’t nearly as unexpected, but they are no less dangerous. Lt. Kooper says that rough weather is most likely to happen where Lake Superior, Lake Huron, and Lake Michigan meet.

The winds from the prairies don’t get blocked as much in Lake Superior as they do in other lakes, says Kooper. “Last year, our station performed one hundred and three search-and-rescue missions in Superior, northern Huron and northern Michigan. ”.

Few other places in the country have weather as violently unpredictable as Florida’s Tampa Bay. “The weather can change in an instant in the summer,” says Jon Saltzgaver, a police officer with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. “We get thunderstorms that come up literally in minutes. If you’re fishing on a calm, lovely afternoon, fifteen minutes later you could be in a huge storm with wind, lightning, and waves. ”.

Saltzgaver says pop-up thunderstorms happen almost every day from mid-June to late September.

The storms are as powerful as they are routine. Commission spokesman Gary Morse, a former boating instructor, calls Tampa Bay’s thunderstorms “the second most violent found anywhere. ”.

The storms wreak havoc on small boats. According to Morse, about 110,000 powerboats are registered to people in the three counties that surround the bay. During storm season, a lot of these boats end up on the water. “We have too many beginners who don’t have the training to deal with these weather conditions,” he says.

Morse adds that the best way to stay safe is to head for port as soon as dark clouds show up. “If you can’t get off the water, hunker down in a protected place,” he says. “Try to seek shelter under one of the big bridges in the bay. During those thunderstorms, the winds range from 35 to 55 knots, and the waves are usually 3 to 5 feet high. You don’t want to be out in the open. ”.

Arkansas’s White River, one of the finest tailwater trout fisheries in the U. S. rivers, can look calm at first glance, but they are actually very dangerous and have killed many people.

The danger comes from fast-rising water. The White, Little Red, and North Fork rivers all have dams that feed fisheries. Each dam also makes electricity. When the turbines start up, the rivers’ flows increase dramatically.

Fisheries biologist Mark Oliver of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission says, “There are eight turbines in Bull Shoals Dam on the White.” “The flow can go from fifty cubic feet per second to more than twenty-two thousand when all of them are on.” ”.

Anglers who wade must flee or drown.

Olivia Oliver says, “A lot of wade fishermen get stuck, especially if they are on the wrong side of the river when the water comes up.”

The greatest danger, however, is to people who fish from boats.

Oliver says that one of the best ways for fishermen to fish on the White is to anchor a boat at both ends so that it sits straight up against the current. “That way, all the people in the boat can fish downstream. It’s effective, but it’s dangerous. If the river comes up and your anchor ropes are too short, your boat gets swamped. If you don’t swamp, the fast flow under the boat can high-side you and flip you over. ”.

More people go fishing in the river every year because it has record-class brown trout. With more people come more accidents.

Oliver says, “If you’re coming in here, I think you should pick a landmark, like a rock in the river, and keep an eye on that.” “If the water starts rising on it, head for shore. ”.

The Shawnee Indians had a name for West Virginia’s New River-they called it “the river of death. ” That wasn’t stretching the truth.

Late along its 320-mile course, the New drops into a deep canyon littered with whitewater rapids. Every year, seemingly without fail, those rapids claim the lives of three to five unfortunate anglers.

“Most boaters just can’t handle the conditions on the river,” says Dave Arnold, a seasoned fishing guide and managing partner of Class VI River Runners. This is the New River. Anyone who runs it, especially near the bottom of the gorge, is very likely to get hurt or drown. ”.

Southern West Virginia’s steep topography makes the river susceptible to quick rises during heavy rains. The New gets ugly during high flows. The center of the river becomes a giant wave train, with few spots to escape the relentless current.

Seemingly benign low-water conditions can turn out to be every bit as dangerous, however.

“Low water creates the risk of entrapment,” Arnold says. “On the New, most fatalities occur when someone’s foot or arm is wedged between rocks. The current pushes his head underwater and he can’t escape. ”.

Arnold says that people who want to catch the trophy smallmouth bass in the river should plan to hire a guide. “There’s never been a death from a commercial whitewater fishing trip in West Virginia,” he emphasizes.

The river can trip up even the best boatmen, however. Brian “Squirrel” Hager, a guide with more than 21 years of experience, went for a swim in the dangerous Lower Keeney Rapids in the New last summer.

Hager says, “If you told me there was a one-in-a-thousand chance of flipping there, I would have laughed at you.” “That was the first time I ever flipped while leading fishermen through those rapids at that same water level and in that exact same way.” But that just goes to show you how unpredictable this river can be. ”.

BARRACUDA — the sea butcher that can kill a human! Barracuda vs human, pelican and lionfish!

FAQ

Are tunas dangerous to humans?

Though tuna is very nutritious, it’s also high in mercury compared to most other fish. Therefore, it should be eaten in moderation — not every day. You can eat skipjack and light canned tuna alongside other low-mercury fish a few times each week, but should limit or avoid albacore, yellowfin and bigeye tuna.

Are tuna fish aggressive?

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna are aggressive predators with a diet of smaller fish, crustaceans, squid, and eels. Their predators include killer whales, pilot whales, sharks, and seabirds.

Is swimming with tuna dangerous?

Being in the water is unsettling even though it’s perfectly safe. It’s fascinating being immersed in such a captive environment. Who knew that tuna could be so interesting? Or so large!

How powerful is tuna?

If fish were like cars, tuna would be the Ferraris of the ocean—sleek, powerful, and made for speed. Their torpedo-shaped bodies streamline their movement through water, and their special swimming muscles enable them to cruise the ocean highways with great efficiency.

Why is tuna bad for You?

Tuna is a nutritious and protein-rich saltwater fish that can contain high levels of mercury. As a result, regular tuna consumption may lead to health issues. Volcanic eruptions and industrial activity emit mercury into the oceans, where it builds up in marine life.

Is tuna fish good for health?

1) Tuna is loaded with omega 3 and 6 fatty acids which help in reducing cholesterol. 2) Tuna is rich in potassium which is known to reduce blood pressure. Omega 3 fatty acids in combination with potassium bring an anti inflammatory effect and promotes heart health. 3) Tuna is rich in various vitamins and minerals like manganese, zinc, vit C and selenium which help in strengthening immune system. They help in reducing free radicals and protect the body from cancers. 4) Vit B that is present in tuna helps in strengthening bones. 5) It improves skin health as it is rich in vitamin B complex.

Is it safe to eat tuna?

As a result, regular tuna consumption may lead to health issues. Volcanic eruptions and industrial activity emit mercury into the oceans, where it builds up in marine life. This article reviews mercury in tuna and tells you whether it’s safe to eat this fish. How Contaminated Is It?

Can you eat too much tuna?

Tuna has long been a favorite among consumers. In fact, according to the National Fisheries Institute, Americans eat a whopping one billion pounds of the canned (or pouched) fish annually. As many know, however, there can be a downside to eating too much of this lunchtime favorite: mercury exposure.

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