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sharks along sowal coast/ double red flags up???
- Thread starter Rice2715
- Start date
Smiling JOe
SoWal Expert
interesting. I guess the purple flag, indicating "marine pests" was broken. Remember, the last two "attacks" we had along the panhandle occured around 11:00am-noon. These were also spotted around that time. I paddled beside two 6'-7' sharks last year in front of Grayton Beach SP for about five minutes. That was also around 11:30am. Humans are also tasty for lunch, in addition to breakfast and dinner.
I throw in the joke to lighten things up a bit, but I think Gary Wise made the appropriate call, closing the beaches earlier today.
I throw in the joke to lighten things up a bit, but I think Gary Wise made the appropriate call, closing the beaches earlier today.
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Ok, This is NOT what I am wanting to hear, as we are arriving in a few days. 
I have a question on the flags. How does it work, who makes the call, who changes them, etc, etc.
We will be at Camping on the Gulf (where the girl was killed 2 years ago
) and there is no lifeguard on duty anywhere in that area. I know those flags dont just change themselves, so when the call is made to change it to purple or double red, how does that work??? I am thinking if there is "known" marine life in the area, you need to know asap (not 30 mins later). Is the property owner responisble to make the flag change?
How much weight do these flags hold?
Please explain and ease my mind
I have a question on the flags. How does it work, who makes the call, who changes them, etc, etc. We will be at Camping on the Gulf (where the girl was killed 2 years ago
) and there is no lifeguard on duty anywhere in that area. I know those flags dont just change themselves, so when the call is made to change it to purple or double red, how does that work??? I am thinking if there is "known" marine life in the area, you need to know asap (not 30 mins later). Is the property owner responisble to make the flag change? How much weight do these flags hold?
Please explain and ease my mind
Smiling JOe
SoWal Expert
The SoWal Lifeguards operate under the SW Fire Dept, and it is the SWFD's duty to change the flags at only the public accesses. You can also see the current conditions on their site, www.swfd.org. You will note that currently conditions are green flag, according to their site, but you will also read the following posted above the flag on that site:
"Calm seas. Please be aware that a green flag does not guarantee your safety."
Does that answer your question?
"Calm seas. Please be aware that a green flag does not guarantee your safety."
Does that answer your question?
The fire district checks beach conditions and sets the flags around 9 a.m. every day and again in the afternoon somewhere around 2 p.m.
They will only change them at other times if there's an obvious reason to do so such as...well.. SHARKS!
Oh, and, the purple flags are not used to indicate sharks in the water. Those are for jellyfish, red tide and such. They either don't post anything or close the water with double reds if there are sharks nearby.
They will only change them at other times if there's an obvious reason to do so such as...well.. SHARKS!
Oh, and, the purple flags are not used to indicate sharks in the water. Those are for jellyfish, red tide and such. They either don't post anything or close the water with double reds if there are sharks nearby.
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SGB
Beach Fanatic
The lifeguards went up and down the beach to get everyone out of the water when the sharks were spotted. The flags were changed to double red. They watched the sharks until they (hopefully!) swam out of the area and away from shore and then changed the double reds back to green. So even though there aren't lifeguards the whole length of the beach, if a shark is spotted, the lifeguards will alert those on the beach in other areas, or at least they did today.
ATJoe
Beach Lover
:shock: :shock: According to the linked article, a 7-8 foot shark was heading for a group of swimmers 5 feet.....again for emphasis.....5 feet from the shoreline?! How the #$&* deep is the water two steps from the shore?
I guarantee in a couple of weeks when I'm basking in those emerald green waters, if somebody yells "Shark!!", I'll be leaving a chum slick as I make my way to the beach. Egads.
I guarantee in a couple of weeks when I'm basking in those emerald green waters, if somebody yells "Shark!!", I'll be leaving a chum slick as I make my way to the beach. Egads.
Smiling JOe
SoWal Expert
ATJoe, I've seen the water be 3ft deep within one step from the water's edge.