Watch a Great White Shark Bite a Boat Before Swimming Under Its Hull

When you’re out fishing in the open water, you can expect to witness ocean life. But the fisherman in the video below didn’t expect a great white shark to get so close! He’s left stunned and humbled by the huge predatory fish. Watch the video then get insight from shark experts who explain why great white sharks circle around and approach boats (it’s not what you think!).

Check Out the Fascinating Video Below!

When the video starts, serene music plays as you watch the ripples in the water just ahead of a man on his fishing boat. The shark’s dorsal fin barely makes it above the surface of the water as it approaches the boat slowly, opening its mouth slightly when it reaches the bottom of the boat. “Oh, he just bit us,” says the man as he continues filming. The shark doesn’t take a bite but instead swims under the boat, splashing on the side of it as it does. The man is in awe as he watches and exclaims, “Wow!”

The shark circles around again, displaying its massive size and calm demeanor as it finally swims away from the boat, understanding there’s neither something to snack on nor a threat present. The video beautifully captures shark behavior, demonstrating the shark’s curiosity and willingness to approach. The animal learns more about the boat as it gets close, including what’s around it, and whether or not there’s something worth checking out further.

Why Do Great White Sharks Approach Fishing Boats?

Great white sharks are inherently curious creatures. Their drive to understand what surrounds them could lead them close to boats. Boaters may first be alarmed by their presence. But if they watch them closely, they can appreciate the behavior of these majestic sea animals. When a shark circles a boat, it’s simply assessing whether the boat is of interest or if it may be a threat. Much the way you pause to take in a new environment, the great white shark takes its time to understand as well. A bait bag or remnants of fish caught around the boat may also lure a great white over. They’re easy snacks, after all!

Shark Specialists Weigh In

Carmen Koepfer, Shark Specialist/Marine Biologist, and Mauricio Hoyos Padilla, co-founder of Pelagios Kakunja, told A-Z-Animals, “This behavior has been seen in great white sharks on Guadalupe Island, including around chum. It is because they are highly visual. There was a study that revealed they have a retina adapted to seeing during the day, not at night. They also have the same rod and cone that humans have. Sharks have a muscular bundle that surrounds the eye not only to move it but also to maintain body temperature. They rely so much on sight and that’s why they circle so many times. To find out the danger and see if there’s potential for prey.”

They go on to explain, “Additionally, great white shark researchers take tissue samples or mark them. To do this, they attract great white sharks toward their smaller boats, much like the one in the video below. When the great white shark approaches, researchers remove the bait and use a sport fishing spear to collect tissue samples. What we’ve noticed is that great white sharks learn which side of the boat you hang your chum. The shark swims around, learning where you place the chum so they can adapt their hunting strategy. After researchers move the bait, the shark comes around and looks at them, in this case, my colleagues, making eye contact with them the way whales do.”

Koepfer continues, stating, “There are some videos of whales also that show how they come up to the surface and they look at the people in the boat. Sharks do the same thing. They learn who has the bait, so they identify the person who moves the bait. They study the person, and they switch their hunting strategy… It’s super interesting how fast they learn. We have a lot of scientific papers and articles that show the learning pattern of sharks. We have proof of how sharks are capable of learning super-fast and keeping those learned patterns or behaviors for a long time. They are super visual. That explains why they circle boats. If they’re interested, they want to know: What is this? Who’s in charge? Is there food? What’s the risk?”

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Willyam Bradberry/Shutterstock.com