RealSurf Surfers' Forum

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

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

Sharks are colourblind, they rely on contrast.

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.

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

Last time I checked at least.

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)

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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?