Bull Sharks found in fresh water in New Jersey

Bull Sharks found in fresh water in New Jersey




Two eight-foot bull sharks - a prime suspect in two of New Jersey's fatal shark attacks in Matawan Creek in 1916 - were caught in the Potomac River near Washington D.C this week. While the shark sightings of early summer in New Jersey slowed greatly over the past month, the capture of these bull sharks resembles their likely trips up the brackish Matawan Creek that fateful summer of 1916. Unlike nearly every other species of North Atlantic shark, the bull shark is comfortable in brackish water.

Fisher Willy Dean caught an eight-foot shark in the Potomac River this week, NBC 4, a local television station, reported. "Dean put out a net Monday at Cornfield Harbor in the Potomac three miles north of Point Lookout with hopes of catching cow-nosed rays for a Solomons Island Marina biologist. When he checked Monday night, everything seemed normal. But when he checked again Tuesday morning, he made a startling discovery," NBC 4 said.

blogs.nationalgeographic.com...


Just when you thought it was safe to go in FRESH WATER? You got it!

reply to post by KIZZZY


Bull sharks, eh?

Guess I shouldn't wear my red bathing suit when I go swimming in Jersey.

reply to post by KIZZZY


Yep - fresh water doesn't mean safety unfortunately...bull sharks have also been a major problem in Brisbane, Aus. over the years. There are estimated to be more than 500 of them in the Brisbane river...periodically people's dogs get taken from the edge of the river, which is the middle of a metropolitan area

Shark Attack Map




geocommons.com...


Anyone with shark experiences...put it in here

I live on the East Coast of Oz too and have seen bull sharks in the town river here.

The shark has to swim 100km upstream to get here.

reply to post by MeSoCorny


erm...nopers....no red bathing suits....watch yer toes!

reply to post by cloudbreak


awww sadness for the poor dogs!

Originally posted by cloudbreak
reply to post by KIZZZY

 

Yep - fresh water doesn't mean safety unfortunately...bull sharks have also been a major problem in Brisbane, Aus. over the years. There are estimated to be more than 500 of them in the Brisbane river...periodically people's dogs get taken from the edge of the river, which is the middle of a metropolitan area

Not just Brisbane.

They have been found deep inland in NSW waters over the years also. Bull sharks just dont care, if theres food, they chase it. If there isnt food, they look for it.

People just have to remember, THEY own the water, we just visit. If someone is unlucky enough (or their dog) to be taken, dont blame the shark, we entered their territory.

I know some take it as surprising sharks arent just in the oceans, but they are everywhere. Aussies know that fact well, we love the water, but we know who owns it.

reply to post by SNAFU38


Well....I just can't get in the waters anymore....too many of those wascals out there...

Great Whites....Tiger Sharks.........*shudders*

they can live in fresh water,

unlike the great white and tiger shark.


these things eat anything, lol. just saying.


i like to look at the water but only do cement ponds.

really don't care that the odds of being attacked are less than me scoring with angelina jolie!

Bull sharks are aggressive, common, and usually live near high-population areas like tropical shorelines. They are not bothered by brackish and freshwater, and even venture far inland via rivers and tributaries.

Because of these characteristics, many experts consider bull sharks to be the most dangerous sharks in the world. Historically, they are joined by their more famous cousins, great whites and tiger sharks, as the three species most likely to attack humans.

Bull sharks get their name from their short, blunt snout, as well as their pugnacious disposition and a tendency to head-butt their prey before attacking. They are medium-size sharks, with thick, stout bodies and long pectoral fins. They are gray on top and white below, and the fins have dark tips, particularly on young bull sharks.

They are found cruising the shallow, warm waters of all the world’s oceans. Fast, agile predators, they will eat almost anything they see, including fish, dolphins, and even other sharks. Humans are not, per se, on their menus. However, they frequent the turbid waters of estuaries and bays, and often attack people inadvertently or out of curiosity.

Bull sharks currently are not threatened or endangered. However, they are fished widely for their meat, hides, and oils, and their numbers are likely shrinking. One study has found that their average lengths have declined significantly over the past few decades.

animals.nationalgeographic.com...

Originally posted by SNAFU38

Originally posted by cloudbreak
reply to post by KIZZZY

 

People just have to remember, THEY own the water, we just visit. If someone is unlucky enough (or their dog) to be taken, dont blame the shark, we entered their territory.

I know some take it as surprising sharks arent just in the oceans, but they are everywhere. Aussies know that fact well, we love the water, but we know who owns it.

I concur.

I lived in far north Queensland for 5 years (for non-Aussies, that's in the tropics way up on the north east coast of the continent) and you could not swim in the ocean or the rivers - there were crocodiles, tiger sharks, box jellyfish (stingers) and irukandji jellyfish ( a jellyfish the size of your thumbnail and completely translucent like glass so is invisible underwater and whose venom kills in minutes and mimcs a heart attack).

The beaches were deserted

And what was even worse was that the Great Barrier Reef blocked all the waves - NO SURF!!!

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/fb4313973b41.jpg[/atsimg]

Tiger sharks are named for the dark, vertical stripes found mainly on juveniles. As these sharks mature, the lines begin to fade and almost disappear.

These large, blunt-nosed predators have a duly earned reputation as man-eaters. They are second only to great whites in attacking people. But because they have a near completely undiscerning palate, they are not likely to swim away after biting a human, as great whites frequently do.

They are consummate scavengers, with excellent senses of sight and smell and a nearly limitless menu of diet items. They have sharp, highly serrated teeth and powerful jaws that allow them to crack the shells of sea turtles and clams. The stomach contents of captured tiger sharks have included stingrays, sea snakes, seals, birds, squids, and even license plates and old tires.

Tiger sharks are common in tropical and sub-tropical waters throughout the world. Large specimens can grow to as much as 20 to 25 feet (6 to 7.5 meters) in length and weigh more than 1,900 pounds (900 kilograms).

They are heavily harvested for their fins, skin, and flesh, and their livers contain high levels of vitamin A, which is processed into vitamin oil. They have extremely low re-population rates, and therefore may be highly susceptible to fishing pressure. They are listed as near threatened throughout their range.

animals.nationalgeographic.com...

Originally posted by KIZZZY
Bull Sharks found in fresh water in New Jersey




Two eight-foot bull sharks - a prime suspect in two of New Jersey's fatal shark attacks in Matawan Creek in 1916 - were caught in the Potomac River near Washington D.C this week. While the shark sightings of early summer in New Jersey slowed greatly over the past month, the capture of these bull sharks resembles their likely trips up the brackish Matawan Creek that fateful summer of 1916. Unlike nearly every other species of North Atlantic shark, the bull shark is comfortable in brackish water.

Fisher Willy Dean caught an eight-foot shark in the Potomac River this week, NBC 4, a local television station, reported. "Dean put out a net Monday at Cornfield Harbor in the Potomac three miles north of Point Lookout with hopes of catching cow-nosed rays for a Solomons Island Marina biologist. When he checked Monday night, everything seemed normal. But when he checked again Tuesday morning, he made a startling discovery," NBC 4 said.

blogs.nationalgeographic.com...


Just when you thought it was safe to go in FRESH WATER? You got it!

The Tiger sharks probably told them that New Jerseyians are the best..basted in all that self tanner gives and extra zest.
See:
www.businessinsider.com...

reply to post by GogoVicMorrow


Well that's a Bull shark....a Tiger shark ...well...that's another ball-game, although

being bitten by any shark can't be good!

reply to post by KIZZZY


Did you scope out the images.. pretty gruesome, but they definitely show the body (parts) that were found in that tiger. I'm sure the sailors family were very happy they were released publicly you know..

Shark Expert Attacked While Filming

OK this is graphic...so anyone with weak tummy... on out!









While filming bull sharks, a shark specialist gets a bite on the calf.


Double click on the you tube video ..it will bring you to YT to watch it. Thank you

reply to post by GogoVicMorrow


Yeah, I saw that one....smh...pretty bad to say the least.

I've always been fascinated by stories of sharks being spotted in fresh water rivers - miles from the sea.

I'm not quite sure why? Perhaps it's because we feel all safe and sound on dry land but these sharks are making inroads into our sense of security. Next thing we know, they'll be flapping up the river banks on their fins in their lust for human flesh.