The Northeastern region of the United States is an underrated destination for surfing.
While most people may first think of Massachusetts and Rhode Island as great spots, another state that should not be overlooked is New Jersey. Home to the shorelines of Surf City, Waverly Beach and more, New Jersey offers fast, powerful waves that peak during hurricane season.
Every summer, the state welcomes millions of tourists looking to enjoy the sun, sand, and sea along the Atlantic coast.
How Many Shark Attacks Happen in New Jersey?
Luckily for these beachgoers, the waters in New Jersey tend to stay pretty shark-free all year long, but there have been a few bites before.
Since 1962, 4 attacks have been reported in the state, the most recent being just last year.
15-year-old surfer Maggie Drozdowski was pulled underwater by her foot in May of 2023. The species of the shark remains unknown, and would be tough to guess since sightings are so rare. Unfortunately for humans, these instances have been increasing as the shark population has gone up immensely in recent years.
This is due to the Marine Mammal Protection Act, which was passed to preserve certain kinds of sea life.
Before this act, local fishermen were allowed to regulate shark prey, which kept them away from humans.
This has impacted the Northeast in particular, as the region is now seeing an annual migration of sharks up from the Gulf of Mexico.
What Kind of Sharks Live / Migrate to New Jersey?
Although sightings in New Jersey are not very common, over the past few decades when they have been spotted, the species of the sharks have varied greatly:
○Basking shark: while basking sharks may look scary, being the second largest type of shark in the world, measuring up to 26 ft long, they are actually not a threat to humans. A pair was seen in New Jersey by tourists this past summer.
○ Dusky shark: these sharks typically avoid interacting with humans, but can get aggressive if provoked. The last sighting in New Jersey was nearly 40 years ago though, so it’s likely you won't encounter one while visiting.
○ Great white shark: great whites are the deadliest type of shark, taking the lives of nearly 20 people every year. Just 6 years ago, oceanographers located a nursery in the Cape May inlet.
○ Hammerhead shark: Hammerheads are also an aggressive species of sharks, named after the strong, rectangular shape of their snouts. The most recent sighting in NJ was late this past summer.
○ Sandbar shark: sandbar sharks are usually pretty tiny compared to other types, only measuring up to 6ft long. These guys are actually one of the safest species to swim with, as they tend to mind their own business. There are currently nurseries in the waters of Great Bay, NJ.
○ Sand tiger shark: although sand tiger sharks are pretty scary looking, they’re similar to sandbar sharks in terms of staying in their own lane, most of the time. There have been no reported attacks by this species in history, and the most recent sighting in NJ being 2022.
○ Thresher shark: thresher sharks are very easy to spot, because they use their long tails to leap out of the water in order to dislodge parasites from their bodies. They are pretty timid to stay away from people, and the last time one was seen in New Jersey was early this past summer.
○ Shortfin mako shark: not only are shortfin mako sharks aggressive, they’re also incredibly fast swimmers -- not a type you’ll want to take your chances with. The most recent sighting in New Jersey was back in 2017.
What Months are Sharks the Most Active in New Jersey?
Most of the sharks mentioned above come up from the Gulf of Mexico once summer hits. If following a typical migration route, they make their way up the coast towards the end of May and leave in early October. All sharks are known to feed at when the sun goes down, so beach goers are warned to be extra cautious at dawn, dusk, and nighttime.
How to Protect Yourself From a Shark Attack in New Jersey
If you’re nervous about getting nipped while you’re visiting New Jersey, read the precautions below to ease your mind!
1. Stay in a group when you go in the water -- you’ll appear larger, scaring away a shark, and will be able to look out for one another.
2. Keep your pups out of the ocean -- ‘doggy paddle’ is very unfamiliar to sharks, so if they spot your dog, they’re likely to come sniff out the situation 3. Remove shiny jewelry -- the shimmer that gold and silver jewelry creates in the sunlight is very similar to the shimmer that is created when fish scales reflect sunlight. You may be mistaken for a snack!
Shark Attacks in New Jersey
If you witness an attack while in New Jersey -- or anywhere really -- be sure to alert everyone in the water and get out as quickly and as safely as possible.
Call 911 immediately and have someone get the nearest lifeguard.
While this can all be very daunting to read about, taking the proper precautions, paying attention to signage and recent sightings, can make certain you avoid any encounters.
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