Who hasn’t been out paddling when struck but the eerie feeling that something big is below them? Whether you paddle small lakes and rivers or the big blue, there is something about what lies beneath that can fill you with unease.
For these kayakers, any unease was justified. Check out three of the wildest kayaker encounters with really big fish on the internet:
KAYAKER: The magical moment this kayaker is surrounded by leaping bluefin tuna
On a sunny morning on the shores of Devon, England, kayaker Rupert Kirkwood found himself surrounded by a school of leaping bluefin tuna.
The bluefin tuna were feeding on garfish, leaping through the air around Kirkwood while his son, a wildlife filmmaker caught it all on camera. Can you imagine paddling with these massive torpedo-like fish flying through the air around you?
Overall, we’re calling this magical moment a win for the kayaker!
BIG FISH: This packrafter in Patagonian Chile was briefly swallowed by a whale
While a whale is technically a mammal and not a fish, ending up in the mouth of a whale rising from the depths is the stuff of paddling nightmares.
19-year-old Adrian Simancas was engulfed by a humpback whale while packrafting in Patagonian Chile. Simancas was only in the mouth of the whale for a few moments, making for one of the wildest kayaker vs “big fish” moments on the internet. This terrifying moment is definitely a win for the whale.
DRAW: Kayaker “hunted” by Great White Shark
While kayak fishing on the New Zealand coast, 19-year-old Matt Wells found himself in for a bigger fish than he bargained for when a massive emerged from the depths to inspect his rudder. In the viral video, the shark followed Wells for a while before returning to the depths and Wells made it safely to shore.
While the shark could’ve easily ruined Wells’ day, we’re calling this a draw thanks to Well’s positive attitude about the encounter.
“I think he was just giving me a fright and having a bit of fun,” Wells told newscasters in an interview about the shark.
Kayak Angler Matt Wells is followed by a shark in New Zealand. Feature Image: Matt Wells | YouTube
