National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration Archives

Five Big Sharks in The Bahamas

You may hear that The Bahamas is the shark capital of the world, and if you think it’s a marketing gimmick, then think again.

Sharks in The Bahamas are well protected. It’s the only country in the world to declare the entire marine habitat a shark sanctuary.

There are 40 species of sharks within the 243,000 square miles of the country’s territorial waters. The country was a global leader in 1993 when it banned the harmful practice of long-line fishing, and it continues to be recognized internationally for its trendsetting conservation efforts. The result is a healthy shark population unrivaled anywhere else in the world. For boaters and divers, it has all the ingredients for unique and spectacular underwater encounters.

There are five big sharks in The Bahamas that stand out for how they congregate in such large numbers in Bahamian waters. Similar to the African safari scene, The Bahamas has a shark safari circuit with its own “Big Five” list. On the African continent, the Big Five were originally classified based on how dangerous and difficult they were to hunt on foot: the lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and Cape buffalo. Today, they represent safari royalty, for they are the most sought-after wild animals to spot on the African safari circuit. Personal preference is the ultimate determinant of safari satisfaction, but it is still a treat to spot the Big Five.

Sharks in The Bahamas

In The Bahamas, it’s no different. The Big Five sharks in The Bahamas consist of five apex predators that congregate in unique habitats across the archipelago. For encounters with these majestic underwater creatures, you’ll need to visit specific islands: Bimini for hammerheads, Cat Island for oceanic whitetips, West End Grand Bahama for tiger sharks, Nassau for Caribbean reef sharks, and Nassau or Andros for silky sharks. Anyone who has the chance to interact with the Big Five on a shark safari in The Bahamas is in for a stunning and exhilarating underwater experience. If you conquer these experiences, you’ll most likely encounter the honorary members—lemon and bull sharks.

Caribbean Reef Sharks

Caribbean reef sharks are the entry level species when it comes to the Big Five. You can find them on shallow coral reefs, around underwater wrecks and during shark feedings with shark wranglers. Nassau shark dives primarily focus on these predators, the staple of the dive circuit. Runway Wall, also known as the “Shark Arena,” is one of the most popular locations for divers to meet these shy sharks for the first time.

Oceanic White Tips

Cat Island has the largest aggregation of oceanic whitetip sharks in the world. These vulnerable sharks have seen their global populations decimated over the years as a result of long-line fishing. In the protected waters of The Bahamas, they thrive. The Cat Island dive is a three-dimensional experience. Unlike stationary shark dives that take place on the sand bottom, divers drift in some of the deepest waters in the ocean on this shark encounter. The sharks are baited, but not fed. The bait crate is suspended in about 30 feet of water. The actual ocean floor might be over 3,000 feet below. Sharks are attracted to the scent of the bait.

Hammerheads

The endangered great hammerhead shark is the largest of all hammerhead species. From December to April, the warm waters of Bimini draw these big-headed, oddly shaped predators all the way from the cold waters of California to their winter home in the Bimini islands. They congregate around half a mile off the coast on the leeward side. By human standards, the water is cold and wetsuits are necessary. Some divers spend up to 90 minutes on the bottom since the shallow dive takes place between 15-25 feet. Feedings can attract the notorious bull shark, which is a bonus to the Big Five.

Tiger Sharks

West End, Grand Bahama, is the most northern point in the entire Bahama chain of islands. 27 miles off offshore, in 30 feet of water, there is a sandy bottom floor known as Tiger Beach. This is one of the most spectacular shark dives in The Bahamas, and the main attraction is enormous tigers, some 16 feet in length. Unlike other dive sites where you might only see a handful of sharks, Tiger Beach is packed with them. As underwater shark photographer Andy Murch says, “They’re big; they are not shy.” Lemon sharks, which are a bonus to the Big Five, make regular showings at Tiger Beach. This is the best year-round spot to see them. The close encounter with these predators makes for amazing underwater photography.

Silky Sharks

This deepwater species has also suffered major population declines internationally due to long-line fishing. It’s possible to spot silky sharks around Andros Island year-round, but the best place to see them is the Lost Blue Hole in Nassau. In June, hundreds of these sharks gather not more than 9-10 miles offshore for a breeding ritual that looks like a choreographed dance in an underwater rotunda. Dive inside the blue hole, and watch the show around 170 feet down.

By Noelle Nichols, Southern Boating November 2018

North Carolina’s coast reveals World War II battlefield

A team from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) discovered a World War II (WWII) German U-boat and a freighter in August 2014 off the coast of North Carolina. Unseen for over 70 years, the German U-576 was sunk in 1942 by aircraft fire after it damaged two boats and downed American merchant ship Bluefields. According to NOAA maritime archeologist Joe Hart, the location is “a WWII battlefield that’s literally right in our back yard.” The two vessels lay only a few hundred yards apart and highlight a time when 90 vessels sank off of the Atlantic coast during World War II. A war grave, the U-boat seals 45 deceased German sailors within. Still owned by the German government, it is protected by the U.S. at Germany’s request.

Southport, North Carolina, welcomes transients with extended time at their city dock. Visiting boats may now stay 48 hours, not just 24, permitting more time for provisioning and exploration. Check-in at the police station the Southport Marina. The marina gives free weather and navigation briefings at 6:00PM during fall and spring migrations. southport-nc.com

The new Customs entryway at the Marathon, Florida, airport is delayed. Renovations began in late fall 2014 and completion is expected in spring 2015. Law enforcement will meet mariners entering the U.S. from international waters at local docks and await the arrival of an airport Customs agent.

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The Miami-Dade County Mayor wants three coastal cities and the City of Miami to share fireboats and crews. The use of land-based fire crews to staff boats may have created longer response times to a disastrous boating accident, which left four dead last summer. County boats would serve the northern and southern reaches of Biscayne Bay, and Miami would use its boat in the downtown area.

Faro Blanco Marina Resort in Marathon, Florida, opened its new docks last month following repairs from 2005 Hurricane Wilma to make Marathon a Florida Keys yachting destination. Faro Blanco Resort was a ‘70s and ‘80s icon. Its beloved white lighthouse still guides mariners into the harbor, but a new Hyatt Place hotel with two pools, waterside restaurants and a fitness center replaces original structures. The new state-of-the-art 74-slip Faro Blanco Marina & Yacht Club accommodates megayachts and offers extensive amenities. Fishing, dolphin watching and the Turtle Hospital and Dolphin Research Center provide local diversions, and rental cars at the Marathon Airport are just 10 minutes away. faroblancoresort.com

By Nancy Spraker, Southern Boating January 2015

Brett Fitzgerald

Executive Director of the Snook & Gamefish Foundation, Brett Fitzgerald, explains the concept of Ales for Anglers and shares easy ways to contribute to waterway conservation while keeping track of your good days on the water.

SB: Please tell me about the Snook & Gamefish Foundation and describe how it aids the fishing and boating community.

BF: The Snook & Gamefish Foundation began as a fundraiser for MOTE marine laboratory in Sarasota, Florida, but shifted its focus to raising awareness for anglers rather than strictly raising funds for NOAA. Today it partners with mariners and anglers by laterally transmitting info from them straight to NOAA via the Angler Action Program. The personal logs of boaters and fishermen directly aids the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) in its pursuit to better maintain the waterways each mariner uses. The Snook & Gamefish Foundation acts as a liaison between waterway conservation and human use to leave our waters in a better state than they are now for our future generations.

SB: In what ways do the personal logs of mariners and anglers directly partner with NOAA?

BF: The Snook & Gamefish Foundation has created the Angler Action Program, which is a data collection database where users log their trip information, which is used for state-level stock assessments. It allows mariners and anglers to be personally involved, and creates ownership in waterway management. The information logged by the anglers is used by the government to set laws, and the immediate, accurate reports helps avoid overfishing, but also doesn’t punish anglers with unnecessary closures or restrictions. It also helps us identify where habitats are damaged or water quality is poor, in which cases our foundation and NOAA can intervene to positively impact the boating experience across the board—whether you are fishing, diving, snorkeling, etc.

SB: Tell me more about the upcoming Ales for Anglers event March 29th in Boca Raton, Florida. How did the Snook & Gamefish Foundation become involved and what was the process of turning this concept into reality?

BF: Well it all started with a conversation I had with Sally, owner of BX Beer Depot in Lake Worth, Florida, last December. I love good beer as much as I love being on the water and Sally shared my sentiments. We were discussing how “beer fests” are kind of stressful now—packed with crowds rushing from vendor to vendor to get their money’s worth—and to me, a craft beer festival isn’t about rushing; it’s about enjoying. I basically said, ‘Someone should have an event like this …’ and I described a Florida-brew-only festival with live music and minimal crowds, and Sally added that she had the beer connections but she just needed a charitable organization to benefit. ‘I have a charitable organization!’ I piped in, and thus Ales for Anglers was born.

By the end of that night, we had a plan to combine local home-brews and talented Florida musicians to raise awareness and funds for the Snook & Gamefish Foundation, along with a handful of other noteworthy marine groups. Today, with the festival only a few weeks away, we have 10 environmental non-profit organizations with booths at the event, over 100 volunteers, and no promoters—making this a real grassroots community event. Although, I did have a woman from Germany call because she couldn’t buy a ticket online; I told her I would reserve one for her at the door … who would’ve expected that!

SB: How did you and your team choose the musicians and craft brews that will headline?

BF: We are featuring breweries from all over Florida’s coast—Pensacola, Jacksonville, Fort Lauderdale, and Due South in Boynton Beach has been overwhelmingly helpful, as many others have. They are all very excited to participate, as many live near the water. JJ Grey is a performer from Jacksonville who has a huge following, and he is on the board of our foundation. He was thrilled to help our cause and pair his musical influence with a great marine charity. Rock Brothers Brewery is a company that brings brewers together with musicians to create a “celebrity beer” and is featuring a “JJ beer” at the event, which will be really unique. We are going to have a lot of exclusive offerings like that, which should attract a decent crowd to relax and also learn more about what goes on underneath the water we all love.

SB: What are your personal hopes or expectations for the event’s inaugural year?

BF: First, I hope it becomes an annual event. Second, I want people to leave with a smile on their faces. Third, I want people who come for one thing to leave loving another thing. For example, if someone comes because they love craft brews, I want them to leave loving the musicians they saw and recognizing the importance of waterway conservation. I’m also really hoping not to lose money and to provide a comfortable, enjoyable environment. I’m very passionate about promoting today’s angler as the “conservation-oriented angler” and I hope our foundation and the 10 other non-profits at the event will encourage people to become passionate, also.

SB: What do you think participants of the Ales for Anglers event can expect? Are you excited for anything in particular?

BF: On the beer side of things, I think people should expect some incredibly unique and tasty choices. I really encourage everyone to come at the beginning for the free home-brew sampling at 2:30, because these aren’t amateurs brewing in their garage; these are brewers on the verge of breaking into the business, and they have well-crafted offerings made uniquely for this event and the cause it serves. I also think everyone should expect to be blown away by the musicians. They each have something really diverse to offer and JJ is one of the best, most engaged performers I’ve ever seen. I am excited for people to learn about the benefits of waterway and ecosystem conservation, and the balance between activity (whether boating or fishing or watersports, etc.) and conservation efforts. Most people think you either have to be a tree-hugger or an active mariner, but they really go hand-in-hand.

SB: How can boat owners become involved with the Snook & Gamefish Foundation and/or Ales for Anglers? Also, is there a way for individuals who are passionate about the water but do not own a boat to get involved?

BF: Boat owners who also like to fish (which is a large majority in the South)—no matter how frequently or infrequently—can immediately get involved by logging their boat trips on our Angler Action Program through the Snook & Gamefish Foundation’s website. A boater can input tides, weather, moon phases, sunsets, catches, and anything else about their trip to keep a personal log. It acts as a powerful tool that helps boaters (mainly fishermen) become more efficient, while also aiding in vital fishery information that the government and organizations use on a daily basis.

SB: How often do you frequent the water? Do you own a boat? If so, what is the name and make?

BF: I own a skiff boat and I try to fish and dive off it as much as I can with my wife and kids, but we boat more than anything else. We just enjoy days on the water together and try to make it out there as much as possible. We also love to charter boats or rent a pontoon on a lake, and we make it our family mission to visit as many places in and around Florida’s waters as possible. We are looking forward to lots of boating this summer!

SB: What is one of your fondest memories or favorite stories working for the Snook & Gamefish Foundation?

BF: I give a lot of talks and seminars about what we do and why we do it, and afterward people always share their personal fishing stories, which I enjoy. I think my favorite part is meeting the children who are positively impacted and see them connect with their parents through time on the water together. I also enjoy experiencing the paradigm of what a responsible fisherman and woman is, and I am proud of today’s anglers and boating community.

By Christine Carpenter, Southern Exposure March 2014