What kind of shark ?

[SANFLEA]

[SteveL]

http://www.justsportfishing.com/blacktip_shark.html

http://species-identification.org/sp...=sharks&id=450

It looks like it may be a black tip shark. Where did you catch it and what method did you use?

[toddkfly]

Sharpnose possibly.

[SANFLEA]

Live bait at 42

[Piscophile]

The lower Chesapeake is prime nursery and feeding area for the Juveniles of two species of shark, Dusky (Carcarcarhinus obscurus) and the Brown or Sanbar shark, (Carcarhinus Plumbeous). Most of the smaller sharks caught there will be one of those two.
That said,--- other species of Shark are not infrequent visitors to the bay. Bulls, Hammerheads, Sand tigers, Dogfish ETC, ad tedium.

The Shark pictured is a bit large (on avg) for an Atlantic Sharpnose and does not appear to have the white spots usual in that species.
It is long and slender like a Blacktip and seems to have the leading edge of the Dorsal fin originating over the back edge of the Pectoral fin.
This is also an identification characteristic of the "Dusky". The body of the fish does not appear to be robust enough to be either a "brown", or "Bull Shark".
Those two species also have the Dorsal fin positioned well forward of the back edge of the Pectoral.
You cant tell from the pic wether the Rostrum (nose) is Distinctly pointed, moderatly pointed, slightly rounded, or blunt.
One of the identification marks of the Dusky (and the Bull, / Brown Sharks) is the raised ridge that runs between the first and second Dorsal fins.
The law of averages says that it is "Probably" a Dusky but without much more information than the pic,--- this is just my opinion.

Piscophile

[SANFLEA]

does this help ?


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OK , POSTED MORE PICS TO SEE IF IT HELPS ,,,,, I WAS THINKING , SANDBAR, BLACKTIP, DUSKY , JUST NOT SURE AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ,,,, WE LANDED 3 OF THEM

[notfishingenough]

I was there at 42 mid-day today.
I caught 3 of those sharks, 1 croker and no flounder.
Did you get any flounder today?

[SteveL]

Looking closer, there are spots on the original photo between the anterior dorsal and the ventral fins, and it has a pointy snout.

It may be an Atlantic sharp nose shark, which is a very common inshore shark in the mid Atlantic bight; it would be a large individual of that species.

http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/pr...arpnose-shark/

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/galler...sharpnose.html

[Piscophile]

In N.C. The Sharpnose tends to be found in aggregations with others of its kind, They cause no end of aggravation to the Mates on Headboats, (Tangles biteoffs Etc).
That could argue for the fish being a Sharpnose, Unfortunately the juvenile Duskys will also tend to aggregate.
My reading of the new pics shows a shark with a heavier body, and shorter nose than the Atlantic Sharpnose I saw so many of in N.C. .
Additionally the coloration of the sharpnose tend to be more brownish than the Blue/gray of this one. ( I will qualify that by saying I have not seen one for 4 years and my memory has been known to be faulty,--- and self serving .)
I was unable to enlarge the pics so I was not able to see the white spots described by SteveL, Steve is an old friend, and serious observer of wildlife, with a degree in the field. His observations are well considered, serious and more often than not correct.

That said,--- the new pics (to me) show the shorter more rounded snout, and moderately robust body of a Dusky. Another Caveat is the notation in two of my books that the Atlantic Sharpnose is not a frequent visitor north of the Carolinas.
Not frequent may also be taken to mean, none last year but plenty this year.

I am still going for Dusky.
Piscophile

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In N.C. The Sharpnose tends to be found in aggregations with others of its kind, They cause no end of aggravation to the Mates on Headboats, (Tangles biteoffs Etc).
That could argue for the fish being a Sharpnose, Unfortunately the juvenile Duskys will also tend to aggregate.
My reading of the new pics shows a shark with a heavier body, and shorter nose than the Atlantic Sharpnose I saw so many of in N.C. .
Additionally the coloration of the sharpnose tend to be more brownish than the Blue/gray of this one. ( I will qualify that by saying I have not seen one for 4 years and my memory has been known to be faulty,--- and self serving .)
I was unable to enlarge the pics so I was not able to see the white spots described by SteveL, Steve is an old friend, and serious observer of wildlife, with a degree in the field. His observations are well considered, serious and more often than not correct.

That said,--- the new pics (to me) show the shorter more rounded snout, and moderately robust body of a Dusky. Another Caveat is the notation in two field guides, that the Atlantic Sharpnose is not a frequent visitor north of the Carolinas.
Not frequent may also be taken to mean, none last year but plenty this year.

I am still going for Dusky.
Piscophile

[SANFLEA]

I was there at 42 mid-day today.
I caught 3 of those sharks, 1 croker and no flounder.
Did you get any flounder today?

we only caught one undersize flounder and two croaker and also 3 of those sharks o and one oyster toad. where are the flounder ?