I was at Vero when this happened.. It was Monday the 14th of June. My son and I went swimming in the ocean that day. I remember people commenting on the surf being rough that day, but I thought it was calm. It was my first trip to Vero. I grew up in Delaware and was used to the Delaware and Jersey shore. Waves were about the size of what I'd call a calm to average day at Rehobeth beach. Anyway I also noticed the diving pelicans that day. It was fun to watch them. I also noticed many of them sitting on the water not far passed the breakers. While my son and I were "bobbing the waves" I noticed as a couple of larger waves came in I could see groups of fish swimming across the tops of the waves, almost like they were running scared. I don't know what kind of fish they were, but they were abouttwo to three feet in length and had a dark mark at the top of the tail. Their bodies were very cylindrical in shape, like that of a baracuda. Maybe that's what I saw and what attacked the girl? Or those were the fish the shark was feeding on. When I saw them I remarked to myself that thos fish seemed awful big to be so near the shore. Anyway the attack must have happened after we got out of the water and went back to the pool. THe beach was still open when we got out.
We found out about the attack that night. We had paid for the turtle walk with the CCO (Caribbean Conservation Organization) that Monday Night. While we were waiting for the last group to show up and start the program the mother of the girl came down and said they have to cancel their walk reservation because her daughter had been bitten by a shark that day. Mother said she was fine, just resting. Sounds like it was only a flesh wound that would heal with no long term affects. Dan Evans, the man who did the turtle wal said that's shark attacks in that part of Florida are almost unheard of. Very Rare he said when someone in our tutrle walk group asked. By the way I highly recomed this turtle walk if you're at Vero on a Monday Night in June or July.
We were there five nights, Saurday the 12th until Thursday the 17th and Monday is the only day I noticed the pelicans diving into the water and sitting on the water just passed the breakers. I'll have to remember that when the pelicans are fishing, so are the sharks next time I'm there.
There was also a portugese man-of-war found dead on the beach that day. A smal one so it probably wouldn't have really hurt someone, but if it had stung you, you'd probably feel it for a day or two.
As far as riptides, on Monday and Tuesday I noticed a much stronger pull out the sea then the other days. Nothing I couldn't handle, but I would not recomend anyone who is not a decent swimmner to go out passed knee deep, and keep the children under 10 years old in your sight.
I am glad the girl is okay!! 
