Sharks in Destin, Florida: Types, Past Attacks, and More

A popular beach location on Florida‘s Gulf Coast, Destin is also home to many sharks. Because of its warm, clear waters, sharks flock to this area as well as others like it off the coast of the Sunshine State. Known as the Emerald Coast, this part of Florida is a dream for people who love spending time at the beach and in the water.

While there is no shortage of fascinating marine life in the waters near Destin, a few shark species are known to frequent the area. From the beach, you may see one of these sharks patrolling the shallow waters. Venture into the ocean to swim, snorkel, scuba dive, or fish, and you’re even more likely to come across a shark. It’s helpful to know when to observe from a distance and when to be more concerned. It is always important to keep in mind that sharks and other marine life, even those that aren’t aggressive, should be left alone. This is for your safety as well as the safety and health of the animal.

Okaloosa County, where Destin is located, has only had four confirmed unprovoked shark attacks since 1882, according to data collected by the University of Florida and Florida Museum. The data gathered since 1926 shows that blacktip, spinner, and sandbar sharks are involved in the majority of shark attacks statewide. These species can be difficult to distinguish, however.

#1 Bull Shark

These sharks are not common to see from Destin beaches but they do frequent the Gulf of Mexico. So they’re worth mentioning, particularly because they are one of the more aggressive sharks that you may encounter. Bull sharks react aggressively when threatened, which they feel quite often when they come into contact with anything unusual (humans). Like most wild animals, they’d prefer to keep their distance from people but they’re quick to pick a fight if they feel like one might be coming. You could call them the “sensitive sharks.”

Bull sharks are gray with short, round snouts. They have prominent dorsal fins. The top of their tail fins are noticeably longer than the bottom, one of the most easily identifiable features of a bull shark. It’s important to keep a keen eye out for sharks in general but especially when you think you spot a bull shark.

An April 2017 shark attack off the Destin coast involved a bull shark. The swimmer, a 17-year-old from Kentucky who was in Florida to play in a softball tournament, was bit and had to get more than 120 stitches. Fortunately, she got away from the shark and actually punched it, resulting in more small cuts on her hands. In this case, the shark came toward her with a wave as she swam in the water and was not provoked. We’re guessing that the shark learned his lesson, though, and are glad that the girl made it out of the water to tell the amazing story of the time she punched a shark in the face.

#2 Tiger Shark

Also rare, tiger sharks are some of the largest sharks around Destin. Because of their massive size, this species always gets special attention when they do make an appearance. They are also aggressive, like bull sharks, with ferocious appetites to match their appearance. If bull sharks are the sensitive ones, tiger sharks are the ones who will grab your lunch money because they just need something to eat.

You’re unlikely to see a tiger shark swimming near the shore. While they do swim around near the water’s surface, they also like to dive down deep. The open ocean also has more potential food for them, so they don’t typically feel the need to venture away from the underwater buffet. The biggest threat from a tiger shark is not that it will bite out of spite but rather that it could mistake a person for a large fish or marine mammal that it wants to eat for lunch. Still, attacks are very rare.

So when can you spot a tiger shark in the wild? If you go on one of the many deep sea fishing charters that leave out of Destin, your chances of spotting a tiger shark go up. Sometimes, you might even catch a tiger shark while fishing. They can often get up to 500 pounds and as long as 20 feet. Imagine trying to reel that in with your fishing rod! Deep sea fishing setups almost always include supports and other specialized equipment that can handle bringing in massive animals like these.

#3 Blacktip Shark

Blacktip sharks are often confused with another requiem shark, blacktip reef sharks. Blacktip (Carcharhinus limbatus) and blacktip reef sharks (C. melanopterus) are so named for the black tips on some of their fins. However, Florida is only home to one of these two species, C. limbatus. Blacktips feature black markings on their first and second dorsal fins, pectoral fins, and the lower lobe of the caudal fin, and these markings may fade with age. These sharks, on average, are about 4.9 feet long and weigh about 40 pounds. They tend to feed in shallower waters (less than 100 feet), making sightings of and encounters with this shark a more frequent event compared with other shark species.

If you want to see or swim with a blackfin shark, there are numerous charter companies operating out of Destin that can help you get up close and personal with these sharks. You can go fishing for blacktip sharks as well. They are much smaller than tiger sharks, but they can still grow to be more than 5 feet long. You’ll need some special equipment or rig to get these sharks reeled in. This is where going on a fishing charter can be so helpful. Not only do they have the necessary equipment, but most captains come with plenty of expertise about the best ways and places to fish for blacktip sharks.

#4 Nurse Shark

These sharks are truly amazing creatures, both in appearance and behavior. Nurse sharks tend to be docile and are usually more interested in taking a nap than attacking a person. They spend a lot of time on the sea floor, sleeping, eating, or just relaxing. They don’t like to move, instead preferring to stay in the same place on the sea floor for most of the day.

If you are a scuba diver in Florida waters, nurse sharks may be some of the most common shark species that you see. Because they don’t move around a lot, these sharks generally aren’t too disturbed by human observers. They aren’t interested in people as a potential food source and don’t want to be bothered to move in most cases. As long as you leave the shark alone, he’ll be happy to stay sleeping so that you can get a good look. Just be careful not to disturb the shark by accidentally stepping on him or getting too close. After all, they still have sharp teeth that they aren’t afraid to use if they feel threatened.

#5 Hammerhead Shark

These sharks like shallow water near the coast so spottings are a bit more frequent than with some other sharks. Keep in mind that attacks are still extremely rare. But it’s important to watch for sharks. The first thing you’ll likely see is their dorsal fin on the surface of the water. If you spot one, alert others nearby and give the shark its space.

Even though hammerheads can get 12 feet or longer, they don’t make a big splash and can swim around without anyone noticing. Destin has plenty of beachfront hotels. From rooms just a few floors up, visitors can get the perfect view of the water below. They often see shapes moving under the water that turn out to be sharks before the swimmers do. That’s one reason why video footage of sharks swimming near unsuspecting swimmers or paddleboarders happens near Destin.

Summary of Sharks near Destin, Florida