When is shark migration season in florida

When the waters climb above 75 degrees, the sharks turn around and head north. To the sharks, migration means a dinner date with perks. They reach Florida in time to gorge on schools of smaller fish — mullet, herring, sardines and anchovies are particular favorites. They also mate. Females who mated the previous year leave the males for protected inlets, where they give birth to live babies. Know before you go: The sharks' prize hunting spots are inlets where their prey enter and exit every day.

The migrating sharks stake out a corridor extending roughly feet — or about two football fields — beyond the beach water line. Airborne researchers from Florida Atlantic have photographed more than 10, sharks spread out between Jupiter and Palm Beach on a single night, and those were just the ones in camera range. Given their tendency to remain within feet of the ocean's surface and their ability to swim in just a few inches of water, the chances of encountering one may be much greater than you'd like to think.

Porter said her type of research can be used in designing more fuel-efficient vehicles, the skin of airplanes, or swimsuits that increase speed. Typically, they leave coastal Virginia and North Carolina around September or October, beginning their return north from Florida around March.

In recent years, Kajiura has reported a decrease in the number of blacktips migrating. Warmer coastal waters may be the reason. MORE: Climate change means more shark attacks? Get the latest local news and become a subscriber. Facebook Twitter Email. Shark season officially underway in South Florida. Ed Killer Treasure Coast Newspapers. Show Caption. Hide Caption. Sharks are closer than you think.

Each winter, blacktip sharks, spinner sharks and the sharks which feed on them, congregate off South Florida beaches in shallow water. Vero Beach student improving, shark season and missing Port St. Lucie man: NI Sharks commonly found in Florida's waters. Several species of sharks, some more aggressive than others, can be found in Florida's waters. These are the most common.