Just saw my first shark

I wonder if there had been two: I saw a large splash from which nothing ever emerged, then ten minutes down the beach I saw what I am pretty sure was a shark. (I guess it could have been the same one, following me.)
It was between the first and second sandbars, had a silvery-grey dorsal fin about the size of my hand, and its movement was quite different from dolphins. Actually, its zigzagging movement looked a lot like the sharks you see in cartoons. ;-)

I'm no expert but it sure sounds like one!

maybe a Tarpon?

That was another guess I had. I have seen tarpon before (in the wild.)
The dorsal fin did not really resemble that of a tarpon, and I didn't see scales. It was much smaller than a dolphin, that's for sure.
I dunno, I suppose I will never know for sure. And sometimes ignorance is bliss.
;-)

Next time you could swim closer for a better look;-)

I don't go in between the sand bars because I've heard that's where the little fish are that the big fish feed on. Heck, I pretty much stay within 15 feet of the shore because I'm a scardie-cat and proud of it.

I have seen little bull sharks cruising the shore a few times, usually when I'm out in my kayak. Always in the early morning. What time of day was this Cil?

Uncle Timmy, it was about 8 am. I was not swimming but was sort of wading near the first sandbar. I try to usually swim between 3 and 5 pm, but always walk the dog between 7:30-8am.
We have seen lots of dolphins during our walks, but this other critter, whatever it was, was a first. I know it was not a dolphin. I did wonder if perhaps it was a little bull shark, because I have heard of so many at the Cape.

That was probably what I saw really close in to shore last year early in the morning. This was swimming really fast parallel to the beach and was following a bigger school of fish ahead of it, so I knew what that was! Unfortunately, I wished I had at least been down on the sand seeing it and not up on the deck.

I don't know what you saw, Cil, but there are plenty of sharks with which you swim in PSJ everyday. Be safe, but more importantly, live life with wreckless abandonment! :scratch:;-)

Better to see your fist shark, than your last shark. ;-)

Better to see your fist shark, than your last shark. ;-)

heh
Like this?


I'm not about to quit swimming, but I have been kinda looking over my shoulder (and everywhere else) lately.

I wonder if there had been two: I saw a large splash from which nothing ever emerged, then ten minutes down the beach I saw what I am pretty sure was a shark. (I guess it could have been the same one, following me.)
It was between the first and second sandbars, had a silvery-grey dorsal fin about the size of my hand, and its movement was quite different from dolphins. Actually, its zigzagging movement looked a lot like the sharks you see in cartoons. ;-)

Hope you saw these from a boat. Not a good idea to swim between the sandbars. The size, species of the shark would determine if you were in any danger, but why take the chance? Just my 2 cents.

Hope you saw these from a boat. Not a good idea to swim between the sandbars. The size, species of the shark would determine if you were in any danger, but why take the chance? Just my 2 cents.

As I said before, it was 8 am and I was actually standing in ankle deep water (wearing clothes) when I saw the shark or whatever it was.

I do swim most afternoons, wherever I can (the sandbars shift around but I do try to pay attention to where I am.)
Now would I swim where there were a lot of diving, feeding seabirds and schools of baitfish splashing crazily around? Not likely.
But I am not about to quit swimming.

BTW
Today during the morning walk I saw a stingray feeding right up at the shoreline.
Mornings can be busy around here.