Shark in Matanzas? Mysterious attack sinks fishermen's boat

A handcrafted vessel sank in the waters of the Matanzas bay after receiving a strong impact from an unidentified marine species. Was it a shark? This is the question being asked by the main characters in the anecdote, who managed to see a

The incident, which occurred near the well-known Boya Roja, involved fishermen Alexander Fernández and Jorge Luis Ceballos, who were rescued by other colleagues from the industry.

According to statements made by Alexander Fernández to the local media Girón, the events occurred in the evening during a bonito fishing trip.

At the time of the incident, both fishermen were casting lines after identifying signs of schools of fish in the area.

While they were attempting to capture a third specimen, the boat experienced a sudden lurch that caused Fernández to lose his balance.

Everything became complicated when, suddenly, they discovered a hole approximately 20 centimeters wide at the bottom of the boat.

"It was like a dry blow, a shove," stated the fisherman.

Fernández noted that the water began to enter quickly, so they tried to block the opening with a blanket and remove the water with a bucket, but without success.

They immediately tried to contact the Coast Guard Station and its fishing base while requesting assistance from nearby vessels.

Rescue and sinking

One of the first boats to respond to the call was that of a fisherman identified as Yuniel. Subsequently, four more boats joined in, interrupting their work to assist in the rescue.

"I’m sinking, I’m sinking, throw me the rope," were the words Fernández managed to shout to the rescuers, who were able to recover part of the fishing gear before it sank.

Both fishermen even ended up briefly submerged while trying to hold onto the boat on the starboard side.

"The boat tilted to one side, then the other, the tip suddenly rose sharply and sank," Fernández recounted.

The boat came to rest at a depth of about ten fathoms.

Recovery of the boat

Days later, a recovery operation was organized that included several divers and five boats.

The boat was secured with ropes and brought to the surface. It was then towed to Los Pinos beach and later transported to the Luis Salgado fishing base on the San Juan River.

The repairs on the boat took about a week. After the work was completed, the fishermen resumed their usual activities.

What attacked them?

So far, those involved have been unable to definitively identify which species was responsible for the impact.

However, they claim to have seen a "dark silhouette" moving away from the scene of the incident, as well as a fin. Among the hypotheses mentioned is the possibility of a blue shark or a dolphin in a defensive posture.

"It's clear that he had enough strength to create such a hole," commented Fernández, who explained that the boat's planks were new and thick.

Despite what had happened, the fishermen resumed their work days later.

Alexander Fernández acknowledged feeling some insecurity when returning to the sea, but he assured that he has regained his confidence over the weeks.

The question that continues to linger in the minds of the incident's protagonists is: Could it have been a shark?

Shark attacks in Cuba: rare but with some tragic precedents

Although Cuba is home to more than 50 species of sharks, including the dangerous bull, tiger, and hammerhead sharks, attacks on humans are extremely rare.

Between 1749 and 2023, approximately 47 incidents have been recorded, of which about 23 were fatal.

In recent decades, only a few unprovoked attacks have been reported, making them rare occurrences.

In November 2017, a 22-year-old young man died after being attacked at night on the beach of Guardalavaca, in an unprecedented incident at that Holguin resort.

Years later, on May 9, 2023, the young diver fisherman Maro Alejandro Díaz Jiménez died after being attacked by a bull shark in the area known as "Shark's Eye," in Puerto Escondido, Mayabeque province.

Also in March of that same year, a 17-year-old minor who was fishing with family near Artemisa was bitten by a shark, but managed to survive.

Another incident was reported in April 2024, when a hammerhead shark attacked a group of artisanal fishermen near Havana, without causing any injuries.

There are records of shark attacks in Cuba, especially when fishing is involved, but they remain statistically infrequent compared to other coastal hazards.

Frequently asked questions about the attack on fishermen in Matanzas Bay