A fish question for you -- Small sharks?

**beachnuevo** · 07-24-2011, 10:38 AM

While vacationing at Seagrove Beach in May of this year, I saw two large fish with "shark type pointed fins" sticking out of the water. One was coming my direction, so I got out of the water. I warned my husband the two were swimming towards him and another person. I could see dots on this long fish, what kind of fish do you think that was? My husband just stayed still as the two swam very near him, but didn't bother him. That was our first trip to the gulf, so we have no idea what kind of fish it was. It had the typical pointed fin sticking just out of the water much like a shark though..??

**kurt** · 07-24-2011, 11:05 AM

Could have been sharks. Many of them are harmless and have no interest in tasting you. Just how large is the question. People often mistake cobia for sharks. Some also mistake porpoise for sharks. Although porpoise dorsal fins look silmilar, they don't stay above water like sharks' sometimes do.

**beachnuevo** · 07-24-2011, 03:57 PM

Kurt, thanks for responding. I looked up images of cobia and it wasn't cobia, I guess they were small shark of some kind, they weren't dolphins. They drew my attention with the spiked fin just above water, being new to the gulf, my heart beat quickly and I got out of the water...needless to say, they didn't hurt anyone, they swam by and left.

Originally Posted by kurt

Could have been sharks. Many of them are harmless and have no interest in tasting you. Just how large is the question. People often mistake cobia for sharks. Some also mistake porpoise for sharks. Although porpoise dorsal fins look silmilar, they don't stay above water like sharks' sometimes do.

**Waterbaddrinkwine** · 07-24-2011, 05:04 PM

Maybe nurse sharks, there's a lot of those close to shore and they don't mess with people for the most part.

**Jdarg** · 07-24-2011, 09:02 PM

The difference between the Gulf, and say, the Atlantic, is the Gulf many days is calm and clear- so you see everything. The Atlantic is gray and moving and you won't see much unless it is a fin above water. Personally I like our clear water and being able to see them-

There was an interesting "swim with the shark" event a couple years ago in Grayton (Tootsie was an unwilling participant that day as well). I remember after the initial OMG moment and a big fat Red Bar margarita to calm the nerves, that I never considered staying out of the water. We have seen quite a few sharks since, simply because they are easy to see in our waters. If you have a fear of sharks, don't swim in murky water- stick with the Gulf, Caribbean, or other places with good visibility. My own personal shark rule.

**kurt** · 07-25-2011, 05:30 AM

Originally Posted by Jdarg

The difference between the Gulf, and say, the Atlantic, is the Gulf many days is calm and clear- so you see everything. The Atlantic is gray and moving and you won't see much unless it is a fin above water. Personally I like our clear water and being able to see them-

There was an interesting "swim with the shark" event a couple years ago in Grayton (Tootsie was an unwilling participant that day as well). I remember after the initial OMG moment and a big fat Red Bar margarita to calm the nerves, that I never considered staying out of the water. We have seen quite a few sharks since, simply because they are easy to see in our waters. If you have a fear of sharks, don't swim in murky water- stick with the Gulf, Caribbean, or other places with good visibility. My own personal shark rule.

Good points. I can't imagine sharks swimming in thick june grass though. It's crossed my mind before when swimming in it.

**30A Skunkape** · 07-25-2011, 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by kurt

Good points. I can't imagine sharks swimming in thick june grass though. It's crossed my mind before when swimming in it.

Last year I was on the kayak about this time of year off Grayton and noted that the sharks specifically avoided swimming in the grassy water, but they did seem to cruise the transition area between clear and grass. This was pretty far out, not near where anyone was swimming. I suspect the bait fish cruise the transition zone ergo, so do the sharks. People frequently mistake remoras for sharks and maybe that is what the original poster saw. Or maybe a spanish mackerel. Or a shark.

**30A Skunkape** · 07-25-2011, 12:44 PM

Is this the fish beachnuevo? Spots, pointed fin, certainly attack small fish in our surf.

**beachnuevo** · 07-26-2011, 10:13 AM

Thanks all... The hubby and I looked at many photos on the Internet, he said they were nurse sharks, he said the spots I thought I saw were not part of the fish' flesh, but instead on top of the skin, like you can see in some photos, if ya know what I mean.... haha Hey, I'm from Missouri, not Florida.

**Geo** · 07-27-2011, 02:28 PM

I've seen many sharks in my five years living here- big and small. None of the ones I'd seen ever let their fin breach the surface. Most of the ones I've seen were bulls.