Discover the 7 Types of Sharks Found in Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay lies adjacent to the crystal-clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico, surrounded by the cities of Tampa, Clearwater, and St. Petersburg. People come from all over the world to swim in the bay and sun on the white sand. But like any ocean water, Tampa Bay has dangerous creatures lurking beneath the surface. Caution should always be taken while in the ocean, and understanding the types of potentially harmful animals in the water can be helpful. Discover the seven types of sharks found in Tampa Bay and learn how dangerous they are and where they lurk. 

1. Bonnetheads Sharks

The bonnethead shark is a small tropical shark from the hammerhead genus and is also known as the shovelhead. Bonnetheads are abundant in the North Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, including the Tampa Bay area. These sharks are often caught as game fish year-round and are found in shallow water near grassy flats. You are most likely to see them in the area during spring, summer, and fall. They prefer bays and estuaries, where they stay close to seagrass, sandy bottoms, and mud. The bonnethead is not aggressive or dangerous to humans. They are shy creatures that tend to avoid humans, and they are not known to bite. 

2. Blacktip Sharks

The blacktip is a requiem shark common in tropical and subtropical waters throughout the globe. This species is common in Tampa Bay, where you can find them year-round. However, they are more prevalent during the summer. They are known for their acrobatic leaps in the air and fast swimming. These sharks are also aggressive around food and have been responsible for several attacks on humans. While they occasionally bite swimmers and waders, they do not pose a serious threat. There have only been 11 unprovoked blacktip attacks in Florida since the late 1950s. These sharks are also caught as game for their meat, oil, and skin. They are listed as a vulnerable species. 

3. Great Hammerhead Sharks

As the largest hammerhead shark, the great hammerhead, reaches lengths of up to 20 feet and can be found in tropical and warm temperate waters throughout the world. You can often spot these majestic creatures around the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa, where their population is at its highest during the summer. They also like to swim in shallow water near coral reefs, lagoons, and deep water near land. This species is typically less harmful to humans than other sharks. Only a few attacks have been reported worldwide.

4. Bull Sharks

The bull species is a requiem shark found in warm, shallow water around the world, especially near coasts and in brackish rivers. The bull shark has a reputation for being highly aggressive, which is why this species is now on the vulnerable list. They are common around populated beaches, such as Tampa Bay, and larger bulls are responsible for the majority of near-shore shark attacks. They have a varied diet and travel around highly populated areas, like coastlines and rivers. This species can be found in Tampa Bay year-round but is more common during the summer.

5. Tiger Sharks

The tiger shark is a solitary ground shark found in temperate and tropical waters. They have a reputation for eating any and everything that comes near, including manmade objects and garbage. These nocturnal sharks are relatively common in the Gulf of Mexico, occasionally finding their way into Tampa Bay. They often visit shallow reefs, canals, and harbors. While attacks are very rare, tiger sharks are responsible for a large percentage of fatal shark bites. In fact, they are the species most likely to attack humans without provocation. 

6. Lemon Sharks

Found in shallow subtropical waters, lemon sharks are very common in the Tampa Bay area. This species is often confused with the bull shark, but they are much less likely to attack humans. They can grow pretty large and are powerful swimmers, but they don’t typically attack unprovoked and pose little threat to swimmers and beachgoers. No fatal attacks have been reported from lemon sharks.  

7. Nurse Sharks

The nurse shark is a calm, sedentary species in tropical and subtropical coastal waters. These bottom-dwellers stay near coral reefs, mangrove islands, and seagrass flats. The docile nurse shark lives in the Tampa Bay area year-round and is typically harmless to humans. While bites have been reported, this species doesn’t attack without provocation. Most people get too close to these sharks because of their calm demeanor. While they are not aggressive, they are still wild animals. 

Types of Sharks Found in Tampa Bay: A Recap of the Top 7

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