Mayor Bill Curtis of Bay Head, New Jersey, has expressed concern regarding a social media trend involving the luring of sharks to shore for photography and video. The mayor stated that while shark fishing is legal in the area, the practice of using bait to attract predators near swimming areas poses a potential risk to public safety.
The concern follows the circulation of videos on social media platforms showing individuals interacting with sharks at the shoreline. In one instance, a video captured a group pulling an 8-foot-long bull shark onto the beach to take photographs before returning the animal to the water.
Local anglers often use a method where they paddle bait out to deeper water and then reel the sharks back toward the beach. A CBS News crew documented this process approximately 100 yards from the shore in water about 15 feet deep. Captain John Schaible, who observed the practice, told reporters that the fishers are "just having fun" and noted that the sharks are released after photos are taken.
Mayor Curtis argued that putting food in the water specifically to attract sharks lures them closer to shore than they might otherwise travel. He called for "common sense and consideration," suggesting that while different beach users can coexist, fishers should be careful about how their actions impact swimmers in the vicinity.
The scale of this trend involves an unspecified number of social media participants and anglers, but the impact is felt by the broader beach-going public and local government officials responsible for beach safety. A person visiting the beach might notice fishing lines extending far into the water or see large marine life being brought onto the sand, which can lead to closures or increased lifeguard vigilance if safety concerns escalate. The mayor did not cite specific injuries but emphasized that the presence of food in the water is a direct lure for predators.
The knock-on effects could include local policy changes regarding where and how shark fishing is permitted. If the trend continues to gain traction on social media, other coastal municipalities may face similar pressure to regulate baiting practices to protect their tourism industries. Currently, no new ordinances or bans have been announced by the mayor, who instead requested that participants exercise better judgment. The source did not report a specific date for a vote or new regulations, and the status of the practice remains legal in Bay Head for the time being.