Large Tiger Shark Spotted In Waters Near Ocean City
OCEAN CITY, Md. (WJZ) -- New technology uncovered an ancient predator in Ocean City: a visitor with some very sharp teeth.
Alex DeMetrick reports a large tiger shark cruised the town's shallowest waters.
It slipped under the same Route 50 drawbridge boaters use to get in and out of the Isle of Wight Bay in Ocean City. A 12-foot, 1,000 pound tiger shark that had been captured and tagged by researches from OCEARCH.
The group's photo shows the satellite transmitter it used to track the shark.
"They actually have to break the surface of the water to transmit the signals to the satellite," said Alan Henninger, National Aquarium.
And OCEARCH tracks the shark online.
The tiger shark, nicknamed Septima, entered Isle of Wight Bay August 1 where it swam unseen in shallow water, even though its fin and transmitter had to clear the surface.
"A lot of people are going to be nervous about it but I think it's pretty cool that something that big was in our bay," said Kevin Pickett.
Septima is now cruising off New Jersey---and is not the first shark to make news. Last June in Delaware, a teen was bitten by a shark. In July at Sandy Point, a bull shark was spotted.
On the internet, tiger sharks are popular hits, topline predators that follow warm water and prey up the coast in summer.
Even though the tiger shark is well to the north right now, it could return for another visit.
"It may come back once the water temps start cooling," Henninger said.
While tiger sharks have been known to attack people, the odds of that happening are remote.
Experts say that tiger shark isn't done growing; it could reach 16 feet and 2,500 pounds.
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