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Are there great white sharks in Florida?

Author

Rachel Ellis

Published Jan 09, 2026

A Great White Shark was spotted off the Florida Gulf coast Thursday. A 12.3-foot Great White Shark weighing 1,644 lbs. was spotted off of Florida's Gulf coast, research organization OCEARCH said. OCEARCH says its partners at SeaWorld named the shark Scot after the people of Nova Scotia.

Do great white sharks swim in Florida?

(CNN) Florida's got yet another spring breaker in town: Scot, a massive great white shark, has been recorded swimming off the Gulf Coast. Scot, an adult male, measures just over 12-feet long and weighs 1,600 pounds, according to OCEARCH, the non-profit marine group that spotted the big fish Thursday.

Do great white sharks live in Florida Keys?

Great whites in the Florida Keys can be a rare sight. The large migratory predators prefer cooler water and are just passing through when they're spotted in South Florida. But when they do show up, most anglers, divers and others on the water view it as a treat.

Are there great white sharks in South Florida?

A COMMON OCCURRENCE? Great white shark sightings in the waters along eastern Florida have become increasingly common in recent years. Bob Hueter, OCEARCH chief scientist, of Sarasota, was on the mission when Sable was tagged.

Do Great Whites Swim Near Florida?

These sharks are currently swimming off the western and southern coasts of the state. The research organization Ocearch tagged five Great Whites that are now located off the Keys and Florida's Gulf Coast.

28 related questions found

Do Great White Sharks go to Bahamas?

You will not find a great white Shark at the beach in The Bahamas. Very misleading title trying to use some people's fear of sharks just to get clicks.” Upon further investigation, beachgoers can rest assured there is no threat of a great white shark encroaching on Bahamian beaches.

Are there Great White Sharks in Miami?

Nido said the shark was 20 feet long, and though it is incredibly rare to spot a great white in Miami waters, Magill said it's not uncommon for sharks to travel during winter. “It is more common to see here in December, yes.

What sharks are on the west coast of Florida?

COMMON SHARK SPECIES OF FLORIDA

  • Lemon Shark. The Lemon Shark is the most common shark we see off the coast of Florida. ...
  • Tiger Shark. The Tiger Shark is one of the Highlights of Shark Diving in Florida. ...
  • Great Hammerhead Shark. The Great Hammerhead Shark is one of the most fascinating shark species we encounter.

Are there great white sharks on the East coast?

No, it's not cause for alarm. It's not unusual to see swarms of sharks off the East Coast at this time of year, with public-facing tracking systems offering the public a look at their movements. There are sharks prowling the waters off the Eastern Seaboard.

Where are the great white sharks today?

Great white sharks are globally distributed with concentrations near South Africa, Australia/New Zealand, the North Atlantic, and Northeastern Pacific.

Are there sharks in the canals of Florida?

Four shark species — bonnethead (Sphyrna tiburo), blacktip (Carcharhinus limbatus), nurse (Ginglymostoma cirratum) and lemon (Negaprion brevirostris) — have been hiding in the canal near Longboat Key in Sarasota County since July 26, according to The Guardian.

Are there bull sharks in the Keys?

Sharks, including bulls, are common in the Florida Keys, but unlike other areas of the state, shark bites are rare, although they do happen.

Are there sharks in Florida beaches?

Shark Facts About Shark Attacks On Florida Beaches

yes, there are sharks in all the ocean waters off the Florida coast... BUT they are not 30 foot Great White Sharks and the incidence of a shark attack is extremely remote.

Are there great white sharks in Panama City Beach Florida?

Great whites are not a common sight in the Gulf of Mexico. They're out there for sure — earlier this year was one caught off of the Navarre Pier and scientists were recently tracking Miss Costa, a tagged great white, off of Panama City Beach — but generally they like to stick to cooler waters.

Does the Gulf of Mexico have great white sharks?

THE PRESENCE OF great white sharks in the Gulf of Mexico is undeniable. Now, a great white off the Texas coast has been confirmed. Last February, we broke the story about Acadia, a 1,000-pound female great white tagged by research group Ocearch in Nova Scotia in September 2020.

Where is Mary Lee the great white shark?

She has undone what Jaws did.” If Mary Lee were ever caught or photographed, Fischer feels she would be easy to identify because of the tag and a notch in her dorsal fin. OCEARCH is currently engaged in Expedition Gulf Stream from Florida to North Carolina.

Does Pacific Ocean have sharks?

The Shark Research Committee, a nonprofit research group, says there have been at least 34 shark species recorded off the Pacific Coast, mostly around California, Alaska and Oregon in the U.S.

Are there great white sharks in Cocoa Beach Florida?

Further south, there are five white sharks in Florida waters off of Jacksonville Beach, Cocoa Beach, and Vero Beach. One is near Dry Tortugas National Park in the Keys.

What kind of sharks come close to shore?

Species Commonly Found Near Shore

Species like Atlantic blacktip, spinner, Atlantic sharpnose, and lemon sharks can be abundant in the Southeast's nearshore waters. In the Mid-Atlantic region, sandbar, sand tiger, and smooth dogfish sharks frequent nearshore waters, especially during the summer.

Are there great white sharks in Tampa Bay?

TAMPA BAY, Fla.

- A massive great white shark pinged off the Gulf Coast of Florida on Thursday.

Where in Florida are the most sharks?

While Florida is the biggest fish among state shark bites, Volusia County continues to hold the title of the Shark Bite Capital of the World, accounting for 63% of all Florida attacks, the ISAF said. Last year, Florida reported 28 attacks, 17 of which took place in Volusia.

How close do sharks come to shore in Florida?

Statistics show that “most shark attacks occur less than 100 feet from the shore,” and data from the Florida Museum of Natural History seems to corroborate this, saying that “Attacks on surfers and swimmers are most common in 6 to 10 feet of water.”

What beach in Florida has the most shark attacks?

1) Volusia

Volusia in Florida has a record high of shark attacks of any state in the US.

What Beach has the most shark attacks?

New Smyrna Beach, Florida

Florida has more shark attacks each year than any other area in the world, according to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF).