Photos for Headline Surfer / Blacktips and spinners are what most people encounter when fishing, swimming, or surfing near the New Smyrna Beach Inlet Jetty where the curling waves draw these sharks who mistake a human foot, knees, hand, etc for baitfish. March 5 pic at right courtesy of New Smyrna Beach surfer Jeff Clark.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Volusia County has had its first reported shark bite incident of 2022 on Wednesday: A 21-year-old New Jersey man fishing at New Smyrna Beach in waist-deep water was bitten by a 5-6 foot blacktip shark, according to Volusia County Safety Ocean Rescue.
Here is a synopsis of what occurred as described by Deputy Chief Tamra Malphurs of Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue in an email media alert to Headline Surfer: At about 3:30 (Wednesday) afternoon, a 21-year-old man from New Jersey was fishing in the 2000 blk North of New Smyrna Beach in waist-deep water when he was bitten by a 5-6 foot blacktip shark. His injuries were non-life-threatening and he was not transported by ambulance. This is the first shark bite of the year.
Here is a synopsis of what occurred as described by Deputy Chief Tammy Malphurs of Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue in an email media alert to Headline Surfer: At about 3:30 (Wednesday) afternoon, a 21-year-old man from New Jersey was fishing in the 2000 blk North of New Smyrna Beach in waist-deep water when he was bitten by a 5-6 foot blacktip shark. His injuries were non-life-threatening and he was not transported by ambulance. This is the first shark bite of the year.
Here is a synopsis of what occurred as described by Deputy Chief Tammy Malphurs (shown here) of Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue in an email media alert to Headline Surfer: At about 3:30 (Wednesday) afternoon, a 21-year-old man from New Jersey was fishing in the 2000 blk North of New Smyrna Beach in waist-deep water when he was bitten by a 5-6 foot blacktip shark. His injuries were non-life-threatening and he was not transported by ambulance. This is the first shark bite of the year.
Volusia County had 16 shark bite incidents in 2021, the second-highest in the past 20 years.
None of the shark-bite incents last year -- most of them in New Smyrna Beach near the Jetty where surfers enjoy the curling waves and sharks the bait fish -- were considered life-threatening.
About the Byline Writer: Henry Frederick is a member of the working press and publisher of Headline Surfer, the award-winning 24/7 internet news outlet launched in 2008, that serves greater Daytona Beach, Sanford & Orlando from Lake Mary, Florida via HeadlineSurfer.com. Frederick has amassed close to 150 award-winning bylines in print & online. He earned his Master of Arts in New Media Journalism from Full Sail University in 2019. He was a breaking news reporter (metro cops & courts beat) for the Daytona Beach News-Journal for nearly a decade. And Before that worked the same beat for The Journal-News/Gannett Suburban Newspapers in Rockland/Westchester counties, NY, dating back to 1989. Having witnessed the execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Florida's death chamber and covering other high profile cases, Frederick has appeared on national crime documentary shows on Discovery ID, Reelz, and the Oxygen Network series "Snapped" for his analysis. • Award-Winning Journalism: Florida Press Club recognizes Headline Surfer for nine stories in 2020 statewide competition. • Award-Winning Journalism of Henry Frederick.