First white shark spotted this year off Cape Cod

BOSTON -- Two Massachusetts fishermen say they saw a great white shark off the coast of Martha's Vineyard in two separate incidents over the weekend.The fishing captains described the shark as wide and about 15 feet long, according to the Cape Cod Times.Capt. Buddy Vanderhoop, of Aquinnah, reported spotting the animal about 500 feet off Menemsha Beach in the early evening Capt. Scott McDowell, of Chilmark, reported spotting the shark while on a charter off Gay Head.A fisheries biologist who specializes in studying sharks for the state Division of Marine Fisheries told the Times that great whites -- made famous by the movie "Jaws," -- are not unusual off the coast of Massachusetts, but he said real sightings are relatively rare. He said many people often mistake basking sharks for great whites.

I love this shit. For the last couple years I have been making mental notes where white sharks have been spotted off the coast of Massachusetts. I can safely say that there is a large group of white sharks that come to Massachusetts waters during the summer months.

Why do I think they are here? To feed. The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 saved seals off the coast of Massachusetts from extinction. Grey and harbor seals are thriving. Large adult white sharks main food source are marine mammals. So it makes sense that they are here. But there is just public denial that large numbers are here. Since people are not actively looking for them, every encounter is by accident. These accidents are becoming more and more frequent every summer. Its only a matter of time until someone spots a white shark off a public beach. There is really nothing to fear from these sharks, as long as you know the rules. Stay away from seal colonies. If you are swimming any where remotely close (few miles) from a colony you are in danger. Don't swim during dawn or dusk. Don't surf, nothing looks more like a seal than a wet suit and board. Don't swim alone. Even a full shark will investigate a single swimmer. Don't look like food. This means don't flap around in water. On the surface you don't want to create a lot of noise. Also keep your body in full extension, this will make you look larger and more intimidating. And finally you need to have good luck. Getting attacked by sharks is horrible luck, sometimes you are just in the wrong place at the wrong time, and there is nothing you can do about it.

And just so I am not crazy this picture is a actually white shark feeding on a seal off Cape Cod.