Mayor of city that skilled real-life ‘Jaws’ warns fishermen might spark shark catastrophe
An actual-life “Jaws” nightmare is stalking the Jersey Shore — with fishermen chumming for large, man-eating sharks close to seashores the place unsuspecting households and kids are swimming.
Bay Head Mayor Invoice Curtis instructed The Put up that anglers have been utilizing kayaks and drones to drop bloody bait fish to draw sharks into Atlantic. And typically the uneaten bait drifts nearer to shore.
“It’s ‘Jaws’ yet again,” Curtis fumed. “It’s loopy — a catastrophe headed straight for us! I’ve personally seen them chumming for sharks, even throughout the day. God forbid a toddler will get bitten or killed.”
The warning comes after Jersey Shore surf fishermen legally landed at least 4 bull sharks and a tiger shark. Each species are cold-blooded killing machines accountable for most of unprovoked assaults on individuals.
Curtis stated the city has little energy to cease the observe. The chumming is irresponsible however not unlawful.
“My fingers are tied. The legal guidelines can’t assist us. The lifeguards maintain watch, and we made a city decision encouraging anglers to adjust to state and federal laws however that’s all we will do.”
There have been loads of shark sightings, however no assaults but this summer season, however that might change within the blink of an eye fixed.
“Sharks solely have one job and that’s to get meals,” stated Kenny Rosenblatt, proprietor of shark fishing constitution firm East Coast Shredderz, who works alongside Jake, Kurtis, and Mac. “Most, like us, catch and launch responsibly, however there are fishermen who don’t do issues proper.”
The controversy comes as sharks are already discovering loads of causes to cruise near the Jersey coast — and close by New York shores too.
Enormous colleges of squid and sand eels have created an underwater buffet for predators, whereas warming ocean temperatures are permitting some shark species to reach earlier and stay longer.
“I’m listening to about bull sharks each week, virtually daily,” New Jersey Fish and Wildlife biologist Greg Hinks instructed the Asbury Park Press. “It’s unprecedented.”
The chilling controversy echoes the darkest summer season in Jersey Shore historical past.
In 1916, a rogue shark terrorized the Backyard State for 12 days, attacking 5 individuals and killing 4 of them. The predator — lengthy believed to be an awesome white, although historians now debate whether or not it was a bull shark — was lastly caught and gutted, with human stays discovered inside.
The assaults impressed Peter Benchley’s novel “Jaws,” which grew to become Steven Spielberg’s 1975 blockbuster.
Greater than a century later, Jersey Shore officers are hoping historical past doesn’t repeat itself.
“We will solely pray the season ends with out anybody getting killed,” added Curtis.
