But don’t worry just yet; most of the sharks near Maryland are rarely a threat to humans. In fact, there have been no recorded shark attacks in Chesapeake Bay, and only a few incidents along Maryland’s coast. Let’s take a closer look at 11 sharks near Maryland’s Coast and Beaches!
1. Sandbar Shark
During the summer and fall there are many sandbar sharks near Maryland’s coast and beaches. Sandbar sharks grow between 6-8 feet long. However, most of the sandbar sharks near Maryland are younger, juvenile sharks because this region is one of the most important shark nursery areas along the East Coast. Like its name, the sandbar shark spends most of its time along the sandy bottom of the ocean where it hunts for fish, rays, sharks, invertebrates, and Maryland’s famous blue crabs. Unfortunately, the sandbar shark is an endangered species.
2. Bull Shark
One of the more aggressive shark species near Maryland’s coasts and beaches is the Bull Shark. Because these sharks can live in both saltwater and freshwater habitats, they often travel through rivers and estuaries. They have even been seen in the Potomac River! However, bull sharks only occasionally visit Chesapeake Bay during the summer months when there is plenty to eat. In fact, having bull sharks present in the Bay is a great sign that the ecosystem is healthy and doing well. Bull sharks eat other sharks, crustaceans, rays, bony fish, turtles, and marine mammals.
3. Sand Tiger Shark
You might expect the sand tiger shark to be the most dangerous near Maryland because of its large size and jagged teeth. Sand tiger sharks can grow over 10 feet long and swim with their mouths open, showing off their jagged, spiky teeth. However, sand tiger sharks are sluggish and are not known to be aggressive. In fact, there are no records of these sharks ever attacking a human. Sand tiger sharks are common in the lower portion of Chesapeake Bay during the summer and fall and hunt at night along the ocean floor.
4. Smooth Dogfish Shark
The smooth dogfish shark is commonly found in the lower portion of Chesapeake Bay, often as far north as the Patuxent River. These sharks only live in the Atlantic Ocean’s coastal waters, usually no deeper than 60 feet. They are called “dogfish” because unlike many other shark species, they hunt in groups or packs. Smooth dogfish sharks commonly eat the crabs and other large crustaceans that live along the bottom of the ocean floor.
5. Spiny Dogfish Shark
The spiny dogfish shark is also common in the lower Chesapeake Bay. These sharks also travel in schools or packs but are slower swimmers and prefer deeper waters. Spiny dogfish grow between 2.5-4 feet long with slender, slate gray bodies. There are also rows of small white dots sprinkled along their backs and sides. Spiny dogfish sharks get their name from the venomous spines found in front of each of their dorsal fins. They use these sharp spines against predators like larger sharks, seals, and killer whales. Although they may sound menacing, spiny dogfish sharks are harmless to humans.
6. Blacktip Shark
Blacktip sharks can grow between 6-8 feet long with torpedo-shaped bodies, wide eyes, and long pointed snouts. The tips of their dorsal, caudal (tail), and pectoral fins all have black or dark gray tips. Blacktip sharks have large jaws filled with sharp teeth and eat crustaceans and bony fish. However, they are usually docile around humans, and only show aggression when they are hunting or eating. Blacktip sharps live in large schools that are gender-specific (males live with males, and females live with females). Male and female groups join together during mating season.
7. Atlantic Sharp-Nose Shark
Another small shark near Maryland’s coast and beaches is the Atlantic sharp-nose shark. They grow less than 4 feet in length and eat crabs, shrimp, mollusks, bony fish, and worms. Like their name, Atlantic sharp-nose sharks have streamlined bodies with long, pointy snouts. Their bodies are gray with white spots along the sides and edges of their pectoral fins. Younger sharks may have black coloring on the edges of their dorsal and tail fins instead of white spots.
8. Dusky Shark
When sharing a range with multiple shark species, there are usually far fewer numbers of dusky sharks in the area. Dusky sharks typically live alone and have been known to migrate over 2,000 miles. These sharks often grow around 10 feet long with streamlined bodies and rounded snouts. They are generalist predators that eat a large variety of different marine animals. Unfortunately, dusky sharks are one of the most common species hunted for the shark fin trade, and today they are endangered worldwide.
9. Spinner Shark
Spinner sharks have an extremely unique hunting style. These sharks swim quickly through the water while continually spinning like a toy top! Spinner sharks can often be spotted spinning out of the water as they attempt to catch something to eat. Spinner sharks look a lot like blacktip sharks. However, these sharks have black on all their fins (including the anal fin), and they are usually bigger, growing between 6-10 feet in length. Spinner sharks are not usually a threat to humans and are listed as a Near-Threatened species by the IUCN.
10. Scalloped Hammerhead Shark
Like many hammerhead species, scalloped hammerhead sharks are easy to identify because of their large size and uniquely shaped heads. These sharks can grow up to 11 feet long and weigh up to 335 pounds. Their eyes and nostrils are located on each side of their wide, hammer-shaped snout, which helps them to hunt and locate animals like stingrays hiding near or underneath the sandy sea floor. Although they have been spotted in very shallow, coastal waters, there has never been an official attack caused by these sharks. Scalloped hammerheads have very small mouths, avoid people as much as possible, and are extremely shy. Unfortunately, these sharks are critically endangered.
11. Tiger Shark
The tiger shark is more aggressive than most of the other shark species along Maryland’s coast. These sharks grow between 10-14 feet on average, but there are records of tiger sharks reaching 20-25 feet in length! Juvenile sharks have dark, vertical stripes along the sides of their bodies like a tiger that tend to fade as they get older. Tiger sharks have extremely strong jaws, sharp serrated teeth, and will eat just about anything from sea snakes and seals to old tires and license plates. Unfortunately, tiger sharks are another victim of over-fishing and are now a near-threatened species.
