Does a flasher attract sharks?

[Newbie_spearo]

Hey all,

Just curious to know if my flasher is going to attract the tax man as well as any game fish in the area? I have a Rob Allen Ghost leader flasher, attaches between gun and float line and works through out your dive with out the need for you to work it. My concern is because one of the spots I am planning to dive is about 20km from Victoria's biggest shark colony and a few other spots are even closer. To make matters worse it's home to the biggest Great white colony in Australia. Will my flasher attract sharks or will I be ok to use it so close?

Cheers,
Jono

[Janner]

I don't have much experience with flashers or diving in the southern hemisphere having only dived in Mozambique for a fortnight on a spearing holiday. But the zambezi's (bull sharks) certainly liked our flashers, after all a flasher is supposed to imitate a shoal of small bait fish and if it didn't attract predators something definetly wouldnt be right.

If your diving with a buddy i would have thought you would be okay, its allways nice to have another bloke watching your back. Or alternatively if your diving solo i would probably have my flasher on a seperate float, that way if anything 'nasty' comes a bit too close for comfort you can make a quick exit and not worry about leaving your gun behind.

Thats my two penny worth. But like i said i know sweet FA about southern hemisphere diving really.

[foxfish]

I know I wouldn't go spearfishing anywhere that I had even the remotest chance of being eaten by a GW!!!

[Newbie_spearo]

Haha, thanks, maybe I'll leave the flasher at home this weekend.

Foxfish, does that mean you'll never spearfish anywhere in southern hemisphere below the tropic of capricorn? It was very interesting reading what Rob Allen had to say about diving with sharks, however I think I'd want to try it out on some smaller not so scary/less intimidated fella's. like lets say a seven gill, even then I'd probably need a new wetsuit from the crap stains I'l be leaving in it.

[blaiz]

I think you should go a head and use the flasher. If there are sharks in the area they are going to come check you out regardless. Maybe just hook the flasher up to a spool rather than using it as a leader. At least then it wont be attached to you or your gun.

[Newbie_spearo]

Yeh I was thinking I'll attach it to the back of my float. My issue isn't so much with any old shark, but more just the GW, I'm guessing 20km is just a stones throw away for them. Looks like the weather is going to be pretty crap, so I don't think I'll be heading to the island, maybe at a later date, will let you know if I see any though.

[jimdoe2you]

Sharks are attracted to vibrations and blood (feel and smell) first, and visual objects (sight) second. You will be fine using the flasher, ...............unless of course your flasher is made of injured, squirming and bleeding fish!!!

[Newbie_spearo]

Haha, cool, I'll have to remember when using my flasher not to injure any fish.

[QuIck ShOT]

Sharks Eat Meat, Your Meat - So just Swim duck dive and dodge Away!!!!!!

[bluewaterkiller]

Flashers are attracting Sharks ..this for sure..
some times they are attacking the flasher..running with it in mouth..
cutting some parts of it ...
but not you..
just be careful when pulling the flasher UP to you ..or pull it back from boat..when YOU are already in the boat..