Going “Coastal” in Hawaii
A Hawaii fisherman has an unbelievable fishing tale: a close encounter with a 9-foot shark that jumped dangerously near his kayak. But, he has the video to prove it.
Isaac Brumaghim, 37, was kayak fishing off the Waianae Coast when the shark sprang up and chomped on the tuna he was fighting to reel in for a tournament.
“He exploded under my kayak; his dorsal hit my kayak,” Brumaghim said. “It was just like a rush.”
Many thoughts ran through his head: fear, excitement and disappointment at losing a big catch. “The shark scared me,” he said. “But I really needed that fish for my job.”
The next thought after the rush subsided: “I hope I got that on camera.”
He often goes fishing with a camera mounted to his kayak. At home, he watched the footage and posted it online, not expecting it to generate the attention it’s getting.
Reporters nationwide are calling. Many are still skeptical, accusing him of doctoring the footage.
The father of three is still in shock, himself. “I just have to laugh about it,” he said, hoping that the experience at least brings some attention to the growing sport of kayak fishing and Aquahunters, the company he runs.
While he lost the kawakawa, or mackerel tuna, to the shark, he continued fishing that afternoon, later catching an 18-pound kawakawa.
The experience, he said, was a humble reminder of the creatures he shares the ocean with.
“You get the chills when it happens,” he said, “but it never scares me from going in.”
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What a Quack!
Security screeners at a Honolulu courthouse noticed something moving inside a defendant’s bag as it passed through an X-ray machine earlier this week.
After initially refusing to open it, the bag’s owner reluctantly revealed that his pet was inside. When he opened the bag, screeners found a live duck and a bottle of beer, Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Toni Schwartz said.
Deputies told Michael Hubbard that his pet and beverage wouldn’t be allowed inside Circuit Court, so he left. He returned a short while later and asked that deputies look after his belongings while he went inside for an appointment, Schwartz said, adding that visitors are allowed to leave their things outside at their own risk.
Hubbard went to his appointment, while the duck waited outside. Hawaii News Now reports Hubbard has two felony assault cases pending. He couldn’t be reached for comment.
Schwartz said Hubbard didn’t appear intoxicated. “Everything was peaceful,” she said.
“We recommend people not bring their pets to court,” she said. “Believe it or not this is not an unusual occurrence. A lot of people try to bring their pets to court.”
But those pets are usually dogs.
“A duck is unusual,” she said. “I don’t think we’ve come across that one before.”