Sand Tiger Shark

Carcharias taurus

Bays and nearshore ocean, South Fork

A bulky, slow-swimming shark with a mouth full of visible ragged teeth. Juveniles born off the Southeast migrate north in spring to spend the summer in New York's coastal bays, and the South Fork Natural History Museum's shark research team counts sand tigers among the species it catches and tags in East End waters. Critically endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Best time of day

N/A, known mainly from tagging research

How to see

Rarely seen by visitors. The species is known locally through tagging research in Long Island's bays, where juveniles return to the same areas summer after summer.

Operator

Self-guided

Cost

Free

Age

All ages

Accessibility

N/A

Responsible viewing

Taking or possessing a sand tiger shark has been illegal in New York since 2010 and in all state and federal waters. If one is hooked by accident, release it in the water at once.

Weather / sea state

N/A