Yellow boards and sharks

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Gumby
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Yellow boards and sharks

Post by Gumby » Wed Jun 22, 2016 8:10 am

Hi folks,

Do yellow boards really attract sharks or is that just hyped up bullplop?
I know this theory was thrown around after Mick's Jbay episode last year, and even more so when he immediately changed to blue boards.
My son wants his next board to be sprayed yellow all over. I don't want to turn him into bait, or even have him nervous when he's sitting out the back. Nor do I want to stop a frothing grom from getting the cool board spray of their choice (although clearly not the most important factor here).

What's the proper research say vs the age old "bright colours attract sharks" theory (if it is possible to separate the two)?

thanks

Beerfan

Re: Yellow boards and sharks

Post by Beerfan » Wed Jun 22, 2016 8:12 am

It's simple, bananas are yellow, and there's never been any evidence of any species of shark eating bananas. So it's clear what you should do now you've got the facts

alakaboo
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Re: Yellow boards and sharks

Post by alakaboo » Wed Jun 22, 2016 10:45 am

Sharks are colourblind, they rely on contrast.

bomboraa
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Re: Yellow boards and sharks

Post by bomboraa » Wed Jun 22, 2016 10:56 am

Though recent research suggests great whites at least can see in colour. Their eyes have both rods and cones, the necessary eye structure to do so.

alakaboo
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Re: Yellow boards and sharks

Post by alakaboo » Wed Jun 22, 2016 11:27 am

Only one sort of cone, so they see in a single colour.

Last time I checked at least.

Gumby
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Re: Yellow boards and sharks

Post by Gumby » Wed Jun 22, 2016 12:31 pm

alakaboo wrote:Sharks are colourblind, they rely on contrast.
Yellow against dark water would no doubt create more contrast than a darker colour (notwithstanding sun glare)

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foamy
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Re: Yellow boards and sharks

Post by foamy » Wed Jun 22, 2016 12:38 pm

The yum yum yellow effect is difficult to conclusively test for, too many uncontrollable variables with the sharks and not the finances to do extensive trials. But every time someone has a go, the yellow 'bait' gets above average shark interest. I stray away from picking a yellow board.
Anyway, if avoiding yellow doesn't really affect my chances of getting shark bit, it definitely reduces the chances of random people making sharkbait jokes as I paddle past.

alakaboo
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Re: Yellow boards and sharks

Post by alakaboo » Wed Jun 22, 2016 1:26 pm

Gumby wrote:
alakaboo wrote:Sharks are colourblind, they rely on contrast.
Yellow against dark water would no doubt create more contrast than a darker colour (notwithstanding sun glare)
Then why are most fish lighter on the bottom?

In a monochromatic world colour does not equal contrast. Ask the cuttlefish.
Image

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steve shearer
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Re: Yellow boards and sharks

Post by steve shearer » Wed Jun 22, 2016 2:04 pm

Contrast depends on the ambient light and where the object is in the water column especially with respect to either the bottom or the surface.
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The Mighty Sunbird
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Re: Yellow boards and sharks

Post by The Mighty Sunbird » Wed Jun 22, 2016 10:25 pm

I've been riding a yellow board for 3 years and have not been eaten by a shark once
Erase.

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Trev
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Re: Yellow boards and sharks

Post by Trev » Wed Jun 22, 2016 10:32 pm

The Mighty Sunbird wrote:I've been riding a yellow board for 3 years and have not been eaten by a shark once
Me either. Had one from John Sojoski since 2003. Still got all my fingers and toes. Of course it's 9'3" long.
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Trev
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Re: Yellow boards and sharks

Post by Trev » Thu Jun 23, 2016 5:42 pm

saltman wrote:
Trev wrote:
The Mighty Sunbird wrote:I've been riding a yellow board for 3 years and have not been eaten by a shark once
Me either. Had one from John Sojoski since 2003. Still got all my fingers and toes. Of course it's 9'3" long.
your fingers and toes are 9'3" long :shock:
:( :shock:
Beanpole
You aren’t the room Yuke You are just a wonky cafe table with a missing rubber pad on the end of one leg.

Skipper
I still don't buy the "official" narrative about 9/11. Oh sure, it happened, fcuk yeah. But who and why and how I'm, not convinced it was what we've been told.

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chrisb
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Re: Yellow boards and sharks

Post by chrisb » Sat Jun 25, 2016 4:48 pm

Wouldn't a "clear" board have the same effect as a yellow board if we are talking contrast?

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Re: Yellow boards and sharks

Post by ctd » Sat Jun 25, 2016 5:12 pm

Only if the surfer was also clear

Actually what if you put a TV screen on the bottom of your board and it showed the surface of the ocean as seen from below. You would then be totally invisible

Wonder if a spray job of that ocean view would work just as well?

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