Home / Environment / Fisherman Spots Rare Hammerhead Shark in CT Waters
Fisherman Spots Rare Hammerhead Shark in CT Waters
2 Sep
Summary
- Hammerhead shark sighting occurred off Connecticut coast.
- Sightings are rare in Long Island Sound; only five reported.
- DEEP biologist states hammerheads are relatively harmless.
A rare encounter with a hammerhead shark occurred off the coast of Connecticut when angler Joshua Enman spotted a fin while fishing with friends. Initially thinking it was a dolphin, Enman and his companions realized it was a hammerhead shark as they approached. The shark even briefly emerged from the water near their boat before diving.
This sighting took place near Black Point in Niantic Bay, an area Enman has frequented for years without prior shark sightings. According to David Molnar, a DEEP Fisheries Biologist, it was a smooth hammerhead. Sightings of hammerhead sharks in Long Island Sound are uncommon, with the Coastal Shark Reporting Application having recorded only five such reports over its two-year operation.
Molnar emphasized that hammerhead sharks are "relatively harmless" and primarily consume skates and rays. He encouraged anyone encountering sharks in Connecticut waters to report the sightings and to release any caught sharks unharmed. He reminded the public that marine life does not recognize boundaries and that humans are visitors in their environment.
