California vs. Hawaii: Which State Has More Shark Attacks?

Shark attacks are uncommon. Typically, sharks stay clear of humans. Even when a shark attacks, it’s rarely fatal. In 2022 there were 108 shark attacks in the world. There were also only five fatal unprovoked shark attacks. Although these numbers look large, they are nothing to be concerned about considering millions of people visit the beach every year! Sharks frequent Hawaii and California. They see some of the most shark attacks in the United States. But which state has more? Follow along to discover if California vs Hawaii has more shark attacks.

Are Sharks Common Off the Coast of California?

In California, many sharks live and travel off the coast. Although many of the sharks in the area are harmless, great whites pose some risk for harm. Great white sharks live and travel through the coast of California. Apart from great whites, you can find also find angel sharks, leopard sharks, thresher sharks, and mako sharks.

Angel sharks are very common along the coast of San Diego, California. You may have seen one without realizing it’s a shark. Angel sharks are flat and look more like stingrays than sharks. They are most common off the coast of central and southern California. 

Leopard sharks are favorites for many divers. You can see leopard sharks throughout California beaches, but they are very abundant in La Jolla. Leopard sharks are harmless to humans and rarely weigh over 40 pounds. You can snorkel with these beautiful sharks. They are commonly close to the shore around June to October.

Are Sharks Common Off the Coast of Hawaii?

What about Hawaii? Are there sharks off the coast of Hawaii? Over 40 species of sharks are found off the coast of Hawaii. However, some are rarer than others. You’re more likely to encounter tiger sharks, whitetip reef sharks, and scalloped hammerheads.

Sharks attacks in Hawaii are rare, but they can still happen. Many of the sharks divers swim with though are docile and calm. Shark diving in Hawaii has become a very popular activity. While on a shark diving excursion, you can come face to face with many different shark species. On some excursions, you’re in a cage, while on others you can snorkel. One of the most common sharks on the tours is the sand shark.

California vs. Hawaii: Which State Has More Shark Attacks?

Hawaii has more shark attacks than California, however, they are rarely far from each other. In Hawaii, there are about seven to eight shark attacks every year, many of which aren’t fatal. In 2022, Hawaii experienced seven shark attacks, one of which was fatal. However, California only experienced four shark attacks during the same time. 

The culprit for most of the shark attacks in Hawaii is the tiger shark. For example, on February 19, 2023, P. Wardle and M. Valentine were paddle boarding when a curious 12 to 15-foot bit the back of an inflatable. Sometimes blacktip reef sharks bite. While Galapagos shark bites have been reported in Hawaii, they are mainly provoked bites while purposefully swimming with sharks. According to Hawaii’s shark incidents list, usually, the shark species of fatal attacks is unknown.  

Although California doesn’t have as many shark attacks as Hawaii, the risk is always there. In California, you have the highest chance of encountering a shark in San Diego. La Jolla in San Diego County has the most recorded shark attacks in the state.

State With the Most Shark Attacks

While shark attacks in Hawaii are high, it isn’t the state with the most attacks. Instead, the state with the most shark attacks is Florida. Actually, this state is the shark bite capital of the world. In 2022, there were 16 recorded and unprovoked shark attacks in Florida. None of the attacks though were fatal. As of June 2023, there have been at least nine shark bites. So, why does Florida experience more shark activity than other states? There are a few reasons.

Daytona and New Smyrna Beach see many shark bites, which is usually because of mistaken identity. The waters are musky and when you mix that with crashing waves, it’s easy for a shark to mistake a human for a large fish, sea turtle, or other marine life. There are also multiple shark nurseries close to the shores of Florida and at least 13 shark species that stay close to the shore. Also, Florida is known for its beaches. People from all over the world travel to this state to enjoy the tropical climate and warm ocean. The more people in the water, the higher chance of an accidental shark bite!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/vchal