Canoe Fishing-And You thought You Were Having a Bad Day!
Here is an interesting report from Australia reposted from Another Board. Rich :
"Posted by harro on 2005-08-17 08:02:49
A 60 year old Townsville bloke fishing in the Normanby river (east coast of Cape York) was dragged from his canoe by a croc. His body hasn't been recovered. Reports state that he was grabbed by the arm and despite efforts to fend the reptile off with a paddle, was pulled into the water. The craft capsized, his wife managed to swim to the bank. Rangers apparently identified a 14 footer which has been shot. No details have been released on any stomach contents.
It'd come as no surprise if there weren't any. At this time of the year, late winter downunder, water and air temps are down and these wind back saurian metabolisms...snake charmers and other charlatans put their subjects into cooler boxes before doing a show.
What's so far missing from reports and "jaws" commentators is that crocs are territorial, especially males, are territorial and will size themselves up against any floating object. When the latter's dimensions are smaller or not overly larger, it is construed as an intruder.
A golden rule is to always have enough boat.
UPDATE:
Well, they've cut open what was thought to be the
culprit croc and didn't find any body parts belonging to humans. That's not to say it wasn't the one, prey is often wedged somewhere till it decomposes a bit so it can be gulped down easier.
The politicians are now in the act, with media grandstanding about croc culls.
Those southerners call this state the deep north."
[This message has been edited by flymaker2 (edited 18 August 2005).]
