8 Sharks Near Delaware’s Coast and Beaches

Dusky shark
sirtravelalot/Shutterstock.com

Written by Brandi Allred

Updated: July 7, 2023

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Sharks, including those near Delaware’s coast and beaches, live in all the world’s oceans. Whether it’s the frigid North Atlantic or the tropical waters of the Gulf of Mexico, sharks are masters of the ocean. You’re not likely to see a whale shark, or a tiger shark, off the coast of Delaware. But there are a few species that frequent the coast and beaches of this northeastern state.

Join us as we learn more about eight sharks near Delaware’s coast and beaches. Some of them are common, while others rarely make their way into the state’s waters. We’ll discover what each species looks like, what they eat, and whether or not they’re at risk of extinction. By the end, you’ll be an expert on the most common sharks in Delaware waters.

If you see a shark while at the beach in Delaware, it most likely will be one of these 8 types!

Read on to learn more about the fascinating fish of Delaware!

1. Atlantic Mako Shark

The mako shark is one of the fastest fish, and it is considered dangerous to humans because of its speed — it can attack aggressively and quickly. It has even been known to "jump" into fishing boats!

It has been illegal to retain or land any Atlantic shortfin mako.

These sharks near Delaware’s coast and beaches grow up to 13 feet long and may live for 30 years. Mako sharks are some of the fastest fish in the ocean; they hunt large fish like tuna, bluefish, swordfish, and other sharks. They’ve also been observed hunting seals and sea lions. Mako sharks never stay in one place for too long; they spend most of their time swimming from New England to the Gulf of Mexico and beyond.

2. Smooth Dogfish

smooth dogfish shark

Also known as the smooth hound, grayfish, or simply dogfish, the smooth dogfish presents no danger to humans.

Smooth dogfish might be the most harmless sharks near Delaware’s coast and beaches. These non-aggressive sharks top out around four feet long and eat only hard-shelled mollusks and crustaceans. They’re not considered dangerous to humans and lack even the terror-striking teeth of other sharks, like the tiger shark. Instead of sharp, fish-catching teeth, smooth dogfish have rough, grinding teeth designed for breaking up tough prey. Their teeth are closer to those of stingrays and other rays than they are to predatory sharks.

3. Sand Tiger Shark

animals eat their young: sand tiger shark

Despite their fearsome, toothy appearance, sand tiger sharks only attack humans in cases of self-defense.

Sand tiger sharks near Delaware’s coast and beaches grow to between 6.5 and 10.5 feet long. They can weigh over 300 pounds and have long, narrow teeth that jut out of their mouths. They’re currently listed as Vulnerable to extinction, though they rarely attack humans. These sharks stick close to shore and are often seen by beach goers. Unlike any other shark, sand tiger sharks hold air in their stomachs in order to float along as they hunt. They eat squid, crustaceans, and small fish. 

4. Spiny Dogfish

Spiny dogfish shark Deep - 15 meters Japan sea Russia

Closely related to the smooth dogfish, spiny dogfish don’t often find themselves on the menu in the United States.

Closely related to the smooth dogfish, the spiny dogfish is one of the most common sharks near Delaware’s coast and beaches. These sharks grow up to four feet long and present no danger to humans. They eat squid, small fish, jellyfish, and crustaceans. 

5. Sandbar Shark

Sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus)

Sandbar sharks have large dorsal, pectoral, and tail fins, as well as edible flesh.

These sharks grow up to six feet long and may weigh up to 150 pounds. Sandbar sharks are highly migratory and very rarely attack humans. They have long, pointed snouts and large fins. Sandbar sharks eat mostly small fish, crustaceans, mollusks, eels, rays, octopus, crabs, and other creatures they find on the ocean floor.

6. Dusky Shark

Dusky shark

Like sandbar sharks, dusky sharks have a large fin-to-body ratio, which makes them a prized catch for shark fishermen.

With their square noses and pale bellies, these sharks near Delaware’s coast and beaches have a fearsome appearance. They’re one of the more common sharks along the coast; they can be found in shallow coastal waters all over the world. Dusky sharks grow up to 14 feet long, but present little threat to humans. Attacks are rare. These sharks eat bony fish as well as octopus, squid, and crustaceans.

7. Thresher Shark

A pelagic thresher shark, Alopias pelagicus, swims by a coral reef in the Phillipines.

Common Atlantic thresher sharks are one of the few sharks that can be responsibly fished and eaten.

One of the rarer sharks near Delaware’s coast and beaches, thresher sharks are known for their remarkably long tail fins. These sharks can grow up to 20 feet long. But, despite their great size, they’ve been responsible for very few attacks on humans. Thresher sharks are apex predators who use their long tails to thrash schools of fish before eating them. They’re also known as fox sharks, sea sharks, whiptails, and swingletails.

8. Great White Shark

great white shark

One of the greatest hunters of the deep, adult great whites have few natural predators.

A rare but not unheard of visitor to the state, great white sharks near Delaware’s coast and beaches can be cause for alarm. However, Delaware has been home to only five recorded shark attacks. Great white sharks grow up to 18 feet long (though some have been reported as being even bigger) and may weigh nearly two thousand pounds. They eat seals, sea lions, sea turtles, and large bony fish. 

Juvenile great whites (less than nine feet long) stick close to shore until they’re big enough to survive in the open ocean. Adult great whites have few natural predators. However, scientists have recently discovered that pods of orca whales occasionally hunt and kill great white sharks, seemingly only to eat their livers.

Summary of 8 Sharks Near Delaware’s Coast and Beaches

Here’s a recap of eight shark species present around the coast and beaches of Delaware:

NumberSharkLength
1Atlantic Mako SharkUp to 13 ft
2Smooth Dogfish4 ft
3Sand Tiger Shark6.5-10.5 ft
4Spiny Dogfish4 ft
5Sandbar Shark6 ft
6Dusky SharkUp to 14 ft
7Thresher SharkUp to 20 ft
8Great White SharkUp to 18 ft


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About the Author

Brandi is a professional writer by day and a fiction writer by night. Her nonfiction work focuses on animals, nature, and conservation. She holds degrees in English and Anthropology, and spends her free time writing horror, scifi, and fantasy stories.

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