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03-30-2017, 06:24 PM
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#1
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Moderator Emeritus
City: St. Marks, Florida
Vessel Name: Morgan
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Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 3,673
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Sharks at Spanish Cay (Bahamas)
This is just a curiosity question. My sister and her husband stayed at Spanish Cay night before last, or perhaps the night before that, and she said that there were several sharks swimming around the boat (which made her disinclined to go swimming). Just wonder if anyone might know what species they were (I presume it is a regular thing for them to be doing that, since I noticed that there are some videos on YouTube).
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John
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03-30-2017, 06:41 PM
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#2
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Guru
City: Sidney
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,258
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03-30-2017, 06:47 PM
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#3
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Moderator Emeritus
City: St. Marks, Florida
Vessel Name: Morgan
Vessel Model: Gulfstar 36
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 3,673
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hawgwash
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Thanks for the link. Couple of people (at that forum) said lemon sharks, reef sharks, nurse sharks -- my brother-in-law opined that they were nurse sharks.
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John
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03-30-2017, 06:49 PM
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#4
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Guru
City: Boston Area
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,605
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I only saw one video, but I've spent a lot of time underwater not too far from there. The most common sharks there are blacktip and reef sharks which are not dangerous. The video looked like there was a lemon shark though...and they are usually fine but have been known to be aggressive at times.
As long as you use a little commonn sense and be aware of your surroundings you'll be fine. Where ever you swim in the Bahamas there are sharks near by, whether you see them or not.
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03-30-2017, 07:48 PM
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#5
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Guru
City: Sarasota/Ft. Lauderdale
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,438
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Most likely nurse sharks. As they get used to being fed off the boats.
But with no pictures or description there's no telling.
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03-30-2017, 07:58 PM
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#6
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Guru
City: Boston Area
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,605
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The easiest way to identify a nurse shark is that both dorsal fins are the same size
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03-30-2017, 08:15 PM
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#7
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Guru
City: Quebec
Vessel Name: Bleuvet
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Benthic2
The easiest way to identify a nurse shark is that both dorsal fins are the same size
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... and they do not eat your fingers if you put your hand in the water, this is a good test too
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03-30-2017, 08:18 PM
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#8
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Guru
City: Sydney
Vessel Name: Sojourn
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A swimmer was surprised to spot a juvenile dusky whaler around 1M long after a 3/4 hour lap swim in the beachside pool at Palm Beach Sydney. The pool fills with seawater,the shark was probably washed in by the surf. No one was bitten, marine animal experts were used to catch and release the shark into the surf.
Not sure if our "grey nurse" sharks are the same, but ours are protected and regarded as harmless, even though they can be quite large.
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BruceK
2005 Integrity 386 "Sojourn"
Sydney Australia
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03-30-2017, 08:56 PM
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#9
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Guru
City: Boston Area
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,605
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They ( nurse sharks ) will bite if provoked though....I can personally swear to that fact.
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03-30-2017, 10:46 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
City: California Bay Area
Vessel Name: BOOSTER
Vessel Model: Nordic Tug 37
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 362
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Nurse sharks waiting for us to fire up the barbecue, Staniel Cay, Exumas.
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03-30-2017, 11:49 PM
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#11
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Guru
City: Sidney
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,258
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dvd;
Nurse sharks waiting for us to fire up the barbecue, Staniel Cay, Exumas.
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Here's a Nurse inside the Grotto that I didn't see until after I jumped through the hole in the roof.
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03-30-2017, 11:54 PM
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#12
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Guru
City: Sydney
Vessel Name: Sojourn
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Even the placid Port Jackson shark (aka a Wobbegong, which sounds like an aboriginal name for it) will bite, if someone stands on it.
(Port Jackson is the correct name for Sydney Harbour).
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BruceK
2005 Integrity 386 "Sojourn"
Sydney Australia
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03-31-2017, 04:30 AM
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#13
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Veteran Member
City: Nykarleby
Vessel Model: Åbo båtvarf Delfin 1962. 34'
Join Date: Jan 2017
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BruceK
Even the placid Port Jackson shark (aka a Wobbegong, which sounds like an aboriginal name for it) will bite, if someone stands on it.
(Port Jackson is the correct name for Sydney Harbour).
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Port Jackson shark ( Heterodontus portusjacksoni) and Wobbegong are different species. Wobbegong - in fact - is a collective name for at least twelve different species in the family (divided into three genera) Orectolobidae. The name Wobbegong is indeed assumed to have aboriginal origin. All Wobbegong species except two live around the coasts of Australia. There is also an Indonesian Wobbegong and the Japanese Wobbegong.
Port Jackson shark is of course also an Australian coaster. Its family (Heterodontidae - "Bullheads") consists of 9 different species spread out along different coastal regions (Asia, Africa, N & S America).
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03-31-2017, 06:44 AM
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#14
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Guru
City: Jacksonville
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Tons of nurse sharks around us at the moment, you see them swimming by the boat at anchor, by the docks and in the water when taking the pooch to shore. They are more frightened of us than anything.
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03-31-2017, 07:08 AM
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#15
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Guru
City: Carrabelle, FL
Vessel Name: Morgan
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I've seen a bunch of Nurse Sharks in the marina at Spanish, but also a few bulls. The Bull Sharks are the ones we encounter in the Bahamas that concern me. Not enough to stay out of the water, but I have a healthy respect for them.
Especially when spearfishing.
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03-31-2017, 07:54 AM
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#16
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Guru
City: Ft Pierce
Vessel Name: Sold
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Benthic2
I only saw one video, but I've spent a lot of time underwater not too far from there. The most common sharks there are blacktip and reef sharks which are not dangerous. The video looked like there was a lemon shark though...and they are usually fine but have been known to be aggressive at times.
As long as you use a little commonn sense and be aware of your surroundings you'll be fine. Where ever you swim in the Bahamas there are sharks near by, whether you see them or not.
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Not from what I have heard about Blacktips...and from Wiki.....
"Normally wary of humans, blacktip sharks can become aggressive in the presence of food and have been responsible for a number of attacks on people. "
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03-31-2017, 08:23 AM
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#17
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Guru
City: Thibodaux, Louisiana
Vessel Name: Gumbo
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Blacktips are good to eat. Bite 'em back, after grilling.
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03-31-2017, 09:14 AM
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#18
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Guru
City: Boston Area
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,605
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I'm surprised Blacktips would be considered "aggressive"...I've never seen that kind of behavior from them. I've seen them take fish off spears but never bother the person holding it. Obviously all sharks deserve some respect.
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03-31-2017, 09:17 AM
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#19
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Guru
City: Boston Area
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,605
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Me and a blacktip in the Abacos
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03-31-2017, 09:28 AM
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#20
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Enigma
City: Slicker?
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 16,540
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Greetings,
Mr. B. "Me and a blacktip in the Abacos" Which one is you?
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