Just a warning to those that dont know..razor shells found at Valentine yesterday.I won't be jumping off anymore..We also found them at Dobell park ramp Wangi when kayaking recently..we hadnt seen them there before.
I had no idea what a Razor Shell / fish was so I did a quick google and came up with this:http://www.newcastlestar.com.au/news/local/news/general/warning-beware-of-razor-fish-in-the-lake/260168.aspx
www.traileryacht.com/Razorclams.htm
So it sounds like if they are around they should be caught and eaten. Are there any recorded incidents of people stepping on them? How sharp are the shells?
how sharp are the shells??.. the name describes how sharp they are .. and once troden on they break apart . leaveing a very painfull excavation ..
Yep be very careful if they might be around. Know a girl who jumped out of a dinghy onto one cut her foot took a step and cut the other foot on another. 7 stitches in one foot and 8 in the other. Extreme case i know but they can do real damage!
I dont think theyll be moving fast..they are embedded in the bottom like a clam/pippie(?)
Yep pretty easy to find at low tide or in shallow water though cause they are quite large. If you eat mussels go for em (not bad bait either).
Hasn't anyone been told to not "jump" into water where you cant see the bottom, there are worse things than razorclams out there- stonefish, stingrays, broken bottles etc
But what else do you do? Belly flop?
Hi Sue,
Yes I have seen Razor Shells at Lake Macquarie and Port Stephens too. Wouldn't a good pair of booties protect you? (not the thinner sort, but the slightly thicker type of surfing bootie)
I always try to slow down to almost a stop before getting off the board and try to disturb any sleeping stingrays by making surface noise. If you can see the bottom it is a big help, if you can't then yes you have to be very careful, especially if you don't know the area.
Where I sail mostly, the Gosford area, there are no Razor Shells but there are plenty of friendly stingrays and sea-turtles. They usually keep their distance if they know we are there. When you surprise them, expect a bad reception. I have had them come right up to my feet while standing in the shallows and never had a problem, but I am not complacent about the risks sailing with these creatures. The rays seem to like the sandy areas but do blend in very well.
As an extra precaution we always push our boards out in front of us as we wade to the deeper water. This works. One of our crew has actually had his board punctured by a ray, leaving a nice hole in his deck. Better than in his foot for sure and easier to fix!!
step gently off the board and yer dont plane up and jump straight off- if you fall off stay near the surface until stuff has a chance to swim off. As wbailey said push your board out in front then try to shuffle your feet rather than step, most things dont mind being gently pushed out of way (though your reaction will often be worse 
) but nothing likes being stepped on.
I dont wear booties when sailing, I try not to touch the bottom too much though- find deeper water where you can sail in closer and then sail board tail first. If I am walking I try to push as much weight on board when pushing it out in front. I might get occasional little cuts nothing a bit of antiseptic wont fix later.
