BigBendFishing.Net

On my trip to Aucilla on Wednesday (already reported on this site) I encountered one of the most bizaar incidents of my life.
At the entrance of the river, a pelican came in from off shore...and landed within 10 feet of my boat. Well I thought, here's another moocher looking for a handout. He paddled around for a few minutes...and we cranked up and moved about 50 yards. He stayed where he landed. We drifted about 1000 yards out from the enterance pole....he was no where to be seen.
My line got fouled on the tip of the rod as I cast a topwater mirrolure...and the line broke. Lure landed where I could see it....and we proceeded over to it with the motor running slow...my hand was on the throttle...I was looking left towards the lure....when all of a sudden something grabbed my right wrist. I screamed...and looked around to see that danged pelican with my wrist in his beak. I hollered again and he opened his beak wide open and lunged at me. My partner turned around in the front of the boat and hollered at him.....and he (pelican) opened his beak and lunged at him. The motor was still running slow....and we parted company....with the pelican just sitting there.
I have been fishing saltwater for over 50 years....seen thousands of pelicans.....had lots of them try to mooch a handout. Never have I ever heard of one attacking people.
Has anyone ever heard of such an occasion? I have teeth marks on my wrist where he grabbed me. Are they dangerous?

Attack Pelican!

What were you guys drinking?

WOW, holy krap.

Wildlife Officer subdues unruly adolescent pelican....



Let's hope that pelican that came after you dosen't come up our way.....

Never had one try to get in the boat, 989. I might have been tempted to find out how grilled pelican would taste.

I have a bass boat. It sits close to the water. Pelican didn't try to come into the boat. He just paddled up next to me....and stuck his beak into the boat...and grabbed me. He sure was unruly too.

That's unreal. Maybe you shoulda fed him about 5 pounds of lead.

I've got a similar story. Two summers ago, I was fishing by Lanark Reef out of my kayak. I was wading, catching pinners for shark bait, when I had an adolescent pelican approach me. I thought he wanted a handout, but he didn't--he chased me around my kayak 3 times, in thigh-deep water, no less. I'm just glad no one had a video camera--a slow motion chase with a pelican trying to chomp me on the rear end would likely appear less than manly, I fear. Somehow, with the aid of the kayak paddle, I escaped.

If I had my 12 guage with me....we'd had one more less pelican.

I'm gonna on up fellows. Little known secret of the "locals" in the big bend. They train the things to attack any person in boats with a GA on the side. Beat em when their young and shove rags with big GA sewed on it down their little beeks.
Sad life for the poor little pelican. Suicide rate fairly high I hear.
Remember that next time you have to deal with domestic pelican situation.
He"s been oppressed so long he can't help himself.

Try throwing a trout jig at one on the St. Marks about January.....I hooked up twice, but they threw the hook....

Caught a few Sea Gulls (not Sea Gurls) on long cast, in gull infested air over the years, but never a pelican. They are quite sporting to catch. Dang things makes long runs that'll make your drag scream like all get out!

A seagull landed on my kids head yesterday and there's a whole bunch of crows congregating outside my office.
Kinda weird.

Littoral......Alfred Hichcock is turning over in his grave.

I messed this up by posting it originally on the first post of this trip.
It actually goes on this post, the Addendum.
Sorry.

I was waiting for someone to advance a theory to explain the, "attack pelican," but guess I'll give mine, first.
Could it be that a pelican had been fed a number of times by people who offered it their left-over bait towards the end of their fishing trip. I've seen it done before, especially at the dock or boat ramp. At some docks, pelicans, gulls and even egrets mob each boat as it comes in). People usually try to get pelicans to come up close to throw them left over-bait fish (often to entertain small children -- pelicans are very good at catching whitebait thrown at them), and it seems to me, a pelican could get the connection that a hand and wrist could mean a snack, and attack.
Anybody else, got a theory?