What month are sharks most active in Florida? What to know about shark bite season
You're 30 times more likely to be struck by lightning than be bitten by a shark in Florida, according to the Florida FWC, but that doesn't mean it can't happen.
There's actually no beach in Florida where it's impossible to come across a shark in the water. The Sunshine State is home to the 'Shark Bite Capital of the World," and to 13 different species of sharks who use Florida waters as nursery grounds for their "pups" (shark babies).
Although shark attacks are rare, they still happen every year in Florida's oceans, particularly when the beaches are crowded in the summer. And it's officially "shark bite season" — the time of year when shark activity in Florida waters is at its peak. Last year, 30% of the recorded unprovoked shark bites in the world were in Florida.
Here's what months sharks are most active in Florida oceans, where the most shark bites happen in the state and safety tips for reducing your chance of a shark bite while swimming in Florida.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) 'shark activity is at its peak in Florida waters during April through October, which coincidentally, is also the time period that humans are more likely to be in the water.'
'Sharks typically move inshore and north in the spring and summer, and offshore and south in fall and winter months.'
Shark tooth hunting: See the best beaches in Florida for finding shark teeth in the sand
The only scientifically-verified source of its kind in the world, the International Shark Attack File (ISAF) is a worldwide database of shark attacks, and is kept by the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville, Florida.
"The International Shark Attack File (ISAF) is the world's only scientifically documented, comprehensive database of all known shark attacks," the ISAF website says. "Initiated in 1958, there are now more than 6,800 individual investigations covering the period from the early 1500s to the present."
According to the ISAF, the county with the most shark attacks in the state is Volusia County, which is the 'Shark Bite Capital of the World' and home to beaches like Daytona, New Smyrna and Ormond Beach.
The FWC's guide to sharing the water with sharks says that there's no surefire way to avoid a shark bite, but you can reduce your chances of being bitten. Most recorded shark bites are actually unprovoked, according to ISAF.
'Every year, millions of tourists and residents visit Florida's beaches and waterways, and these beaches and waterways will more than likely contain sharks,' the FWC says.
'According to experts, while there are no guaranteed ways to avoid shark bites, understanding shark behavior could help you make better decisions on when and where to swim.'
Of the 88 shark-human interactions that ISAF investigated in 2024, 47 were unprovoked and 24 were provoked. The other 17 cases included boat bites, a shark-inflicted post-mortem bite ('scavenge') and several others were unassigned or classified as 'unconfirmed.'
ISAF defines unprovoked bites as incidents where a human who didn't interact with or provoke a shark was bitten.
According to ISAF, provoked bites include 'instances when divers are bitten after harassing or trying to touch sharks, bites on spearfisherman, bites on people attempting to feed sharks, bites occurring while unhooking or removing a shark from a fishing net and so forth.'
Here are some tips to reduce your chances of being bitten by a shark, from the FWC:
Stay in groups, since sharks are more likely to bite a solitary individual.
Don't wander too far from shore, which isolates you and places you far away from assistance.
Avoid being in the water in the dark or during twilight hours, when sharks are most active.
Don't get in the water if you're bleeding from an open wound or if menstruating. A shark's ability to smell blood is acute.
Avoid wearing shiny jewelry in the water. When light reflects off of shiny jewelry – especially under the water – it resembles the sheen of fish scales and might make you look like shark food.
Avoid waters with known discharges or sewage and waters used for any type of fishing – especially if there are signs of bait fish or feeding activity. Diving seabirds, which frequently feed on bait fish, are good indicators.
While there are myths and anecdotes about dolphins saving humans from shark bites, the presence of dolphins doesn't mean there aren't sharks in the water – both often eat the same foods.
Use extra caution when the water looks murky.
Remember that sharks see contrast particularly well. Uneven tans and bright-colored clothing or swimsuits could draw a shark's attention.
Try not to splash and thrash around in the water, as this may draw a shark's attention.
Don't allow pets in the water: their erratic movements may draw a shark's attention.
Be careful when swimming in the area between sandbars or near steep drop-offs-these are some of sharks' favorite places to hang out.
Swim only on beaches with lifeguards on duty.
Don't get in the water if sharks are known to be present, and get out of the water if sharks are sighted.
Never harass a shark.
How can you avoid a shark bite? What to know before swimming in Florida waters
Volusia County's 47 miles of beach have seen 359 recorded unprovoked shark attacks from 1882 through present day, according to the ISAF.
From 2012 to 2021, there were 94 shark bites recorded in Volusia County. In 2024, Volusia County represented 57% of the shark bites in Florida that year, up from 50% in 2023. Of the 14 shark bites that took place in Florida last year, eight were in Volusia.
"Florida's 14 cases represent 50% of the U.S. total and 30% of unprovoked bites worldwide. This is lower than Florida's most recent five-year annual average of 19 incidents," ISAF says.
Volusia's shark bite count of eight bites last year was also slightly lower than the average of nine each year.
"Of the six remaining bites, two were in Walton County, and one each occurred in the Martin, Brevard, St. Johns and Indian River counties," ISAF says. None of the 14 shark bite cases in Florida last year were fatal.
Here are the top 10 Florida counties with the most recorded shark bites and how many bites have occurred in each county since 1882, according to ISAF:
Volusia County, 359
Brevard, 159
Palm Beach, 83
Duval, 46
St. Johns, 46
Martin, 42
St. Lucie, 39
Indian River, 23
Monroe, 21
Miami-Dade, 20
Here are the Florida counties with the least recorded shark bites and how many bites have occurred in each county since 1882, according to ISAF:
Santa Rosa, 1
Charlotte, 1
Franklin, 2
Gulf, 2
Walton, 3
Okaloosa, 4
Manatee, 5
Flagler, 6
Escambia, 7
Sarasota, 7
According to the FWC, sharks are most active at night and the twilight hours (right before sunrise and right after sunset).
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Shark attacks in Florida: Safety tips to know before you swim
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Miami Herald
Boats are bursting into flames in South Florida. How common is this?
Last week, two boats in Fort Lauderdale went up in flames. Friday, six boats were charred at a Sunny Isles Beach dock. READ MORE: Boat engulfed in flames ignites several vessels at Sunny Isles dock: fire rescue So, you've got to be wondering: Do Florida boaters have no clue how to operate a vessel or is this just a random twist of fate? As it turns out, boats going up in flames is not uncommon in a state that is saturated with boats, statistics show. While the number of boat fires are trending higher in Fort Lauderdale — the site of another explosion in December, killing a boater who was fueling up at Lauderdale Marina — statewide, they've actually decreased over the past five years, according to vessel accidents' data compiled by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. READ MORE: Boat explodes off the beach in Fort Lauderdale, fire-rescue says So far, in Fort Lauderdale this year, there have been six boat fires, the city's Fire Rescue department said. The department's spokesman, Frank Guzman, noted that 'not all these vessel fires had significant damage.' Last year, there were 15 boat fires in Fort Lauderdale, up from four in 2021, with 11 each in 2022 and 2023, Guzman said. Florida has more registered boats than any other state Florida averages about 35 boat fires a year, according to the FWC, which notes in its latest annual report that the state also has more than 1 million registered vessels for recreation, making it 'the undisputed 'Boating Capital of the World.'' (Michigan has the second-most boat owners.) Over the past five years, boat fire numbers have fluctuated in the state, with 41 in 2020, 37 in 2021, 33 in 2022, and 30 in 2023, the latest data available, the FWC said. Out of the 685 reportable boat accidents in Florida in 2024, 33 stemmed from fires, 17 involving fuel and 16 caused by other factors. The majority of boat accidents in Florida — 209 — involved vessels hitting fixed objects, according to the FWC. Gas vapors likely cause of Sea Ray explosion Fuel was likely the cause of the explosion of a 39-foot Sea Ray cabin cruiser in the Intracoastal Waterway in Fort Lauderdale on Memorial Day. Out of the 15 people on board when a fireball shot out from inside the boat, 11 were hospitalized. The operator of the boat, 29-year-old Joshua Fifi, died days later at the hospital. READ MORE: Father of four dies after Memorial Day boat explosion off Fort Lauderdale Fire officials said the blast was likely caused by fuel vapors that ignited a flash fire when the boat was started. The source of the vapors and ignition is under investigation. It was like 'a fireball,' Guzman said. Boat safety tips Boating experts stress that boaters must open their engine compartment and turn on the blower fan before starting a boat. The fan, which removes gas fumes or any accumulated gasoline, should be run for three to five minutes. Boats have ventilation switches on the dash panel that should be switched on every time a boat is used. And, they add, boaters should take a sniff test and smell for any signs of gas vapors before starting a boat. READ MORE: Two boats exploded off Fort Lauderdale within 5 months. Tips to avoid a similar fate The FWC is still investigating the cause of a 30-foot boat that went up in flames just off the beach in Fort Lauderdale two days later. There was one person on board, who jumped off the vessel and swam to shore before paramedics took him to the hospital to be treated for injuries. There have also been damaging boat fires in other parts of South Florida, the most recent a blaze that ended up burning up six boats, including a 90-foot vessel, at a Sunny Isles Beach condominium dock early Friday morning. No one was injured in the fire, which was triggered by one boat going up in flames and the blaze spreading to five other boats. Authorities are investigating. Boat fire off Jupiter The same day the Sea Ray exploded in Fort Lauderdale, a 48-foot fishing yacht caught fire off Jupiter Inlet. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Three people were on board the vessel when it caught fire, the Coast Guard said in a statement on X. They were rescued by other boaters in the area who responded to the scene. No one was hurt, according to the Coast Guard. And, a May 14 fire at a Tavernier boat yard in the Florida Keys badly damaged several vessels that were dry docked, according to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
2 motorcyclists injured when they hit a 6-foot alligator on I-4 in Orange City
This story has been updated with new information and to add a video. Two Volusia County motorcyclists and a 6-foot alligator were injured Saturday when the motorcycles struck the gator on Interstate 4 in Orange City, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The crash occurred at approximately 6:08 p.m. in the westbound lanes of I-4 in the area of mile marker 110 in Orange City, according to FHP. FHP Lt. Tara Crescenzi wrote in an email that while she imagined there have been other accidents involving gators statewide, she was unaware of any others recently in Central Florida. A 67-year-old DeLeon Springs man and a 25-year-old Orange City woman were traveling westbound in the inside lane, which is the closest lane to the median, when they struck the alligator, FHP stated. The impact caused both motorcycles to veer to the left off the highway. The man's motorcycle entered the wood line and struck a tree. The woman's motorcycle left the roadway but did not go as far as the wood line. The man was riding a 2022 Suzuki GSX-R1000R and the woman was riding a 2021 Kawasaki Ninja 650. Both riders were transported to HCA Lake Monroe Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was called to help with the injured gator. FWC spokesman Chad Weber said the gator was about 6 feet long. He said the FWC called a trapper to remove the gator and the trapper would decide what to do with the gator, including whether to euthanize it. Weber said it's not unusual for an alligator to seek the warmth of a road since the pavement retains heat from the day's sunlight. He said he lives in Lake County and he occasionally sees gators on roads. He said for more information about alligators, people could check the commission's website at The crash remains under investigation. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: 2 bikers hit gator on I-4 in Orange City, all 3 injured
Forbes
4 days ago
- Forbes
Jaws Anniversary Coincides With Real-Life Shark Sighting In Rhode Island
Basking sharks, despite their size, pose no threat to humans. They have tiny teeth, no interest in ... More large prey, and spend most of their time following plankton blooms. Just in time for the 50th anniversary of 'Jaws,' a real-life shark sighting had New Englanders channeling their best 'shahk in the pawnd' impressions this week. The moment unfolded at the end of last month near Block Island, Rhode Island; it was here, in the calm waters of the Great Salt Pond, that diners enjoying a seafood meal at Dead Eye Dick's spotted something unusual slicing through the surface. A pair of unmistakable dorsal fins. Phones came out, videos were taken, and soon even the NGO Atlantic Shark Institute was sharing the footage of the sizable animal online. The organization, which monitors shark activity throughout the region, joked about the parallel to the infamous movie and invited the public to guess what kind of shark had found its way into the sheltered saltwater lagoon. Speculation quickly flooded the comments. Guesses ranged from great whites to sand tigers to makos. But the truth was far less dramatic and dangerous. In the video, the silhouette looked imposing, and anyone unfamiliar with shark species could understandably assume it was something dangerous. The shark, as confirmed later by the institute's executive director Jon Dodd, was a basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus). Enormous, yes, as they are the second largest fish in the ocean after the whale shark. But dangerous? Not quite. They're filter-feeders, cruising through the ocean with mouths wide open to scoop up plankton, not people. A 20-foot basking shark made an unexpected appearance in Rhode Island's Great Salt Pond, stirring ... More memories of Jaws but posing no danger. The one in the Great Salt Pond was around 20 feet long (just over 6 meters), making it relatively modest for its species, which can grow over 40 feet (12 meters) in length. Still, seeing an animal that size in a place where people typically kayak, swim, and anchor boats is enough to give anyone pause. 'The size of these sharks, the height of the dorsal fin, and how they move can be a real attention getter!' said Dodd to a local outlet. 'They can look quite a bit like a great white shark at a glance, or from distance, and that can put people into a panic and justifiably so based on where you might be at the time (think in the water!)' Basking sharks, despite their size, pose no threat to humans. They have tiny teeth, no interest in large prey, and spend most of their time following plankton blooms. And yes, they can look eerily similar to great white sharks, especially if your only reference is the iconic 1975 Spielberg film. 'The good news? They've never been implicated in any bite on a human being, as noted in the International Shark Attack File. They are endangered in some parts of the world and considered 'vulnerable' here in the U.S.,' ASI explained. While the scene may have triggered some instinctive unease, experts were quick to clarify there was no cause for concern. 'Sharks are arriving in Rhode Island daily,' the Atlantic Shark Institute continued in a Facebook post, 'as water temperatures continue to rise and more and more species of shark find them suitable to their liking.' This is part of a larger trend tied to climate change and warming ocean temperatures, which are shifting where marine animals spend their time during the summer months. It's no surprise then that basking sharks, which are normally seen off the coast in deeper waters, are making occasional detours into shallower inlets like Great Salt Pond. Fortunately for any nervous swimmers, the shark didn't linger. By the next day, it had likely found its way back out to open water, leaving only ripples (and viral footage) in its wake. As we mark the anniversary of 'Jaws,' it's worth recognizing how far we have come as a society. Fifty years ago, a scene like this might have ended in alarm and calls for the removal of the individual (likely leading to a grim end for the shark in question). Today, it ends with a Facebook post, a science lesson, and a bit of local pride. After all, not every summer hotspot gets a visit from one of the ocean's true giants.
