Scientists are scratching their heads trying to find the source of a mysterious tidal surge that struck Papamoa Beach early Saturday knocking down fishermen and bringing in lines.
Fisherman Grahame Lindsey was out fishing the bottom of the tide at Karewa Parade during low tide at 5.30am on November 23 when he was stunned by the wave that powered up the beach.

“It came up to nearly the high water mark,” says Grahame.
“It was low tide, it was about half past five and it brought the Kontiki in and laid the lines up the beach. It came in - it wasn’t just a wave it was like a tsunami.

“It was quite frightening really. First time I have been fishing on the beach when that’s happened. The tide came in and it stayed in for three or four minutes, then it just drained straight out like a huge vacuum cleaner. It was quite substantial.

“I don’t know if anyone else saw it, but at that time of the morning there are not many people around anyway. But it was very mysterious.”

Another man fishing nearby saw the water rise from his ankles to waist deep, says Grahame.
“And my shirt was ripped. It threw the Kontiki right in. If there are waves out there and you have got a Kontiki, it will just pass and the Kontiki will stay there - but this brought the Kontiki right in. It’s never happened like that before.”


[link to www.sunlive.co.nz]