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Here is an assortment of large sharks that can be found in New Jersey waters, by no means all of them. These are more likely to be found offshore in oceanic waters. Sharks are seldom a danger to divers, they seem to be put off by the noise and bubbles. None the less, all should be treated with caution.
Realistically, sharks in our waters are not a great concern. In over 350 northeast ocean dives, I have seen sharks on only several occasions ( not counting harmless little Dogfishes ) and only once while in the water. That one was in the Mud Hole, on the Arundo, to be precise. It was a Blue, or possibly a Mako, and wanted nothing to do with me, which was a relief, since I had half an hour of deco left to do at the time !
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| Note the difference between the toothless Basking Shark at left and the very not toothless Great White Shark at right. |
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If you think about it, humans must taste terrible to sharks, and scuba divers especially - with rubber suits and big metal tanks. Many shark attacks occur in murky water where the shark is not sure what it is attacking. Some attacks have been the result of the shark being stepped on in shallow water. Most shark attacks on humans are abortive, the shark taking only one exploratory bite, then realizing its mistake and breaking off the attack. Unfortunately, with a large shark, one bite and you're dead. Many predators, from bears to tigers, will prey on humans when sickness, injury, or old age make them unable to catch their normal prey. Sharks are probably no different.
See Restrictions and Health Advisories for catch limits on various species of sharks.
Prionace glauca
Size:
to 11 ft,
reportedly to 21ft
Habitat:
open ocean
Notes:
dangerous
A fast-swimming oceanic shark, these are colored vivid blue in life, but quickly fade to gray in death. The Blue shark is described as a persistent and dangerous stalker, and is often found in great numbers. This is the shark most likely seen in caged shark dives off Rhode Island, and is probably the commonest shark in our offshore waters during the summer months. Other identifying features of the Blue shark are the extremely long pectoral fins and relatively slim body ( compared to those below ) with very unequal upper and lower tail lobes.
A large Blue Shark off Rhode Island
Note the vivid blue coloration, with lighter undersides.
The long lean lines of a Blue shark. This one has just been tagged.
A Blue Shark pesters a remote video camera ( NEFSC )
( You may notice that it has a fishing leader trailing from its mouth. )
Blue Shark feeding on herring ( NEFSC )
Fishes of the Gulf of Maine - Blue Shark (PDF)
Cetorhinus maximus
Size:
to 45 ft
Habitat:
open ocean
Notes:
harmless
The Basking Shark is second in size only to the Whale Shark, and much more likely to be spotted in our cool northern waters. Like the Whale Shark, the Basking Shark is a harmless plankton feeder. While the Whale Shark has a brown and cream checkerboard pattern on its back, the Basking Shark is more uniformly gray, making identification easy. It also differs in profile: while the Whale Shark has a broad square snout, the Basking Shark has a pointed conical snout, much like its cousin the Great White, for which it may be mistaken.
Basking Sharks are common off Massachusetts and northward, and not uncommon off New Jersey and Long Island, where they swim lazily at the surface ( hence the name ) and are probably responsible for most reports of monster Great Whites. A 20 foot Basking Shark would be of small-to-average size, while a 20 foot White Shark would be of unheard-of proportions.
Note the overall gray coloration and tiny eyes.
Also note the huge toothless gape.
Basking Shark seen from above - note the long gill slits which curve
around the top of the head, and the narrow bulbous snout.
This is another harmless Basking Shark. I wouldn't get in the water with it anyway.
As you can see, a Basking Shark really doesn't look or act much like a Great White, so all you South Jersey divers can stop scaring yourselves silly whenever you run across one. But then, what newspaper is going to print a story like "Divers Encounter Harmless Basking Shark" ? I suppose a little embellishment is necessary to get your name in the news.
One more time ... repeat after me: This is not a Great White.
Fishes of the Gulf of Maine - Basking Shark (PDF)
Carcharodon carcharias
Size:
to 26 ft, but more likely 12-16 ft
Habitat:
open ocean
Notes:
incredibly dangerous
Great Whites are not terribly fond of cold water and are more likely to be found further south, although they do appear regularly in Long Island Sound. They are typically pelagic, but have been known to come close inshore and even into creeks and rivers on rare occasions.
The largest reported local sighting of a White Shark that I can recall was a 14 footer in Long Island Sound many years ago, and I doubt that they get any bigger than that around here. Any really large shark sighted in the bight is more likely a Basking Shark. The NJ state fishing record for a White Shark is 759 lbs - smaller than the record Mako. The record New York White Shark is 3450 lbs ( 1986, out of Montauk. ) Great White sharks are now strictly protected by law.
Note the stark white belly and the distinct margin between white and gray.
This is what a real Great White Shark might look like
to a South Jersey diver on a deco hang ...
... or maybe this. Suffice it to say that if you actually encountered a Great White,
you probably wouldn't be telling your story to the newspapers the next day.
( This is actually Bruce, the mechanical shark from the movie "Jaws" )
A Great White, seen from the surface. Compare with Basking Shark.
There just are so many incredible pictures of this beast. The breaching
behavior seen here is far more common than was once thought.
A young Great White swims in captivity at the Monterey Bay Aquarium
It was eventually released because it was attacking its tank-mates.
Promotional video for Shark Shield electronic shark repeller
It seems to be pretty effective
Fishes of the Gulf of Maine - Maneater (PDF)
Despite their popular image as monsters, sharks are actually in greater danger from humans, according to author Peter Benchley
July 19, 2000
HONG KONG (Reuters) -- Author Peter Benchley, who instilled terror in millions of movie goers and branded sharks the demons of the deep, is now exhorting the world to take action to protect sharks, calling them more victim than villain.
Benchley, author of the best-selling novel "Jaws," and a co-writer of its top-grossing screenplay, made his appeal for measures to protect sharks on Wednesday in Hong Kong, the world's largest importer of shark fins.
"In the 25 years since 'Jaws' was first released, sharks have experienced an unprecedented and uncontrolled attack," Benchley told a news conference. "Sharks are much more the victims than the villains," he said. Benchley appealed for a cut in consumption of shark fin which he said was uneconomical and driving sharks to the brink of extinction.
"Asia is the largest consumer of sharks and shark products," he said. "People should try to eat less shark fin soup and try to get a national ban on shark finning." Shark fin soup is a delicacy in Asia, the top consumer of shark fins and shark fin products. "the increase has been so enormous in the past few years that some species of sharks have been reduced by 80 to 90 percent. If this keeps up at the current pace, sharks will be wiped out," he said.
Benchley said finning sharks or "ripping their fins off and throwing them back in the water to die" is uneconomical because 99 percent of the animal is wasted. Last year 6,000 tons of shark fins passed through Hong Kong for local consumption and export, equivalent to 20 million sharks, he said. "If you wipe out the sharks, there will be no more shark fin soup," he said.
25 years after the release of "Jaws", researchers know great white sharks are less aggressive than they are depicted in the movie
Benchley said that since "Jaws" was first turned loose on movie audiences a quarter of a century ago, sharks had been subjected to unrelenting assault by commercial fishermen. He attributed his own change of heart about sharks to the dramatic increase in the numbers of the animal being killed and to the increase in general understanding about them.
He said a hundred million of sharks were killed each year and only 12 people around the world were killed by sharks. "the chances of being killed by a shark are minimal to say the least." he said. "You are much more likely to be killed by bees, dogs, bats, and certainly in Hong Kong, automobiles." Benchley urged governments to protect sharks, saying the animal faced overfishing and had a slow reproduction rate.
Although acknowledging that the concepts upon which "Jaws" was based were mostly erroneous, he said that was the extent of knowledge at the time. "Back then it was thought and accepted by everybody that great white sharks targeted human beings."
"Now we know that Great White sharks, and indeed all sharks, avoid people, and 70 or 80 percent of the time if they bite a human being it's by accident and they spit the human being out." Despite his transformation from demoniser to protector, he noted: "I don't regret writing "Jaws." the information that was there at the time was as good as it was."
Isurus oxyrinchus
Size:
to 12 ft
Habitat:
open ocean, coastal
Notes: dangerous
Smaller cousin of the Great White, Mako sharks are renowned for their speed, and their powerful and aerobatic fight when hooked. They are also thought by some researchers to possess greater intelligence than other species. As a result of overexploitation by long-liners and sport fishermen, the local population has collapsed, and large trophy-sized individuals have not been caught off New Jersey for many years, although small ones are still common.
Shortfin Mako Sharks are generally considered to be excellent table fare. Not so for Longfin Makos, which are found in the deep ocean, out beyond the Gulf Stream.
The Mako has a snow white belly much like its larger cousin the Great White.
Large Makos are said to be capable of leaping more than 20 feet out of the water.
A hooked Mako near the surface, showing the distinct white patch around the mouth.
Promotional video for Shark Shield electronic shark repeller
It seems to be pretty effective
Fishes of the Gulf of Maine - Mako Shark (PDF)
Lamna nasus
Size:
to 12 ft
Habitat:
open ocean
Notes:
dangerous
Porbeagles are fast-swimming active sharks. They are warm-blooded like their bigger cousins Great Whites and Makos. This makes them more tolerant of cold water than many other types. They are sought by fishermen both for sport and for food. The white patch at the base of the dorsal fin is unique to this shark.
Right: Porbeagle steaks
Note the stout, stocky body form of this boated Porbeagle.
With the tail folded over, it looks almost like a porpoise.
A rather fanciful illustration of a Porbeagle from
Edward Donovan's Natural History of British Fishes 1802-1808.
Fishes of the Gulf of Maine - Porbeagle (PDF)
Alopias vulpinus
Size:
to 20 ft including tail
Habitat:
open ocean, both coastal and over very deep water, also in the
Mud Hole
Notes:
not especially dangerous
This shark feeds mainly upon small fishes which it stuns with its long tail. It has relatively weak jaws and small teeth for its size, and is generally not considered a threat to man unless provoked. Thresher Sharks are capable of great bursts of speed, and also commonly leap completely out of the water, for reasons unknown. The Thresher is a favorite of shark fishermen, and is very good eating if cleaned and prepared properly. It is also a common bycatch of long-line commercial fishing. The Bigeye Thresher shark is even more bizarre ( it's purple ! )
Thresher shark in the Philippines. Note the large eyes and small mouth.
The tail is unmistakable
Threshers are known to jump completely clear of the water, like this one in Maine.
Fishes of the Gulf of Maine - Thresher Shark (PDF)
I make no claim as to the accuracy, validity, or appropriateness of any information found in this website. I will not be responsible for the consequences of any action that is based upon information found here. Scuba diving is an adventure sport, and as always, you alone are responsible for your own safety and well being.
Copyright © 1996-2008 Rich Galiano
unless otherwise noted
