Black tip sharks hunting. Photo: Ibrahim Rifath/Unsplash
Located just south of Daytona Beach, Florida is New Smyrna Beach, which is home to 17-miles of beautiful coastline. Unfortunately for surfers, New Smyrna is also known as the “shark capital of the world.”
On March 9, New Smyrna had its first attack of 2022. According to the Daytona Beach News Journal, a 21-year-old man from New Jersey was fishing in waist-deep water when he was bitten by a black tip shark. The attack occurred at approximately 3:30 p.m. and the man was bitten on his left knee and calf. Ocean Rescue Captain Tamra Malphurs reported that the victim was not transported to the hospital.
Despite its “shark bite” tag, New Smyrna boasts some of the best waves on the East Coast and as a result, is regularly frequented by surfers and bodyboarders. Although the town has plenty of waves to choose from, the most popular is Point Inlet.
According to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), Volusia county averages nine attacks per year but reported 17 attacks in 2021. The recent New Smyrna attack marks the first of 2022 for the region.
