Do I need to be worried about sharks at Clearwater Beach?

[mermaidwannabe]

I used to go to South Carolina every year and swim blissfully in the ocean. That was before I had kids and before I developed a fear of sharks! We're going to Clearwater (actually Belleair Beach nearby) for a week after Disney in May. Are sharks prevalent on the gulf side? Have I seen too many sharks movies and I don't need to really worry about this? This is the first time my DDs (8,5,2) have ever been to a warm beach (we go to Oregon which is freezing). Should I just relax?

 

[WDSearcher]

You've seen too many shark movies. There are, of course, sharks in the oceans off Florida, but the beaches do a really good job of letting folks know when there's something to worry about. Follow any signs you might happen to see regarding where to swim or not to swim and you'll be fine.

 

[mermaidwannabe]

Thanks AGAIN!! I'm sure turning chicken in my old age of 34. Thanks for taking so much time replying to my posts. You are helping out greatly in my planning and my itinerary.

 

[Kasmir]

I lived on Clearwater Beach my entire life, until I went away to college. We spent many, many weekends on our boat in the Gulf. We still visit for an extended period every summer. I have NEVER seen a shark. Stingrays in August = too many to count. A ton of dolphins? All the time. Sea turtles? On occasion. Jelly fish? Every great once in a while, when they'd beach themselves. Any species of shark? Never.

Belleair Beach is just about three minutes away from Clearwater Beach.

Regardless, be smart. Sharks are attracted to blood, so don't enter the water -- beyond about 12 inches -- with a bleeding cut. I also don't swim in the ocean during "that time of the month."

Remember: Sharks don't eat people. Most shark bites occur because the shark has become disoriented and has mistaken you for its prey. In fact, many shark bites occur when people enter the sharks' feeding areas, such as tropical reefs or sea lion/seal habitats. In all actuality, you're more likely to be struck by lightening than be attacked by a shark, particularly in Belleair Beach.

Now would I swim willy-nilly in the Pacific Ocean, in deep waters off the coast of Australia or Hawaii? Not on your life!

Enjoy yourself... You have nothing to worry about!
Sheila

 

[mermaidwannabe]

Thanks Kasmir - Part of my fear, I think, is also coming from a trip I took to Hawaii where we swam to Captain Cooks Monument (what the heck was I thinking) and I about had a heart attack (no, really) because a shark was tugging on my brother's fish bag from spear fishing earlier. Dumb dumb dumb. Then on the same trip, we thought it would be cool to swim in a lighted area of a hotel where manta rays hang out. I was stung my a man-of-war and had an allergic reaction so an ambulance came and a very large man was giving me mouth to mouth (talk about trauma). I can laugh about it now (sort of) but I think that trip ruined me.

So when I read your post and you have LIVED there, I can REALLY relax now and not worry about the "ocean boogie men".

 

[DisneyVillain]

Are sharks prevalent on the gulf side?

You are much more likely to drown in the pool.

In the US:
Deer kill 325 times as many people each year.
Dogs kill 45 times as many people each year.
Snakes kill 37.5 times as many people each year.

It does happen, however:

Clearwater is in Pinellas County, which has had 8 confirmed shark bites since 1882, with 2 fatalities. The last fatal bite in Pinellas County was in 2000.

The Gulf coast has had 46 confirmed shark bites since 1882, with 4 fatalities. Three different counties on the Atlantic side have had more bites than the entire Gulf coast, but those three have only 1 fatality between them. Volusia County (Daytona Beach) is the "Sharkbite Capital of the World", with 178 bites (no fatalities).

More info here: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/statistics/GAttack/mapFL.htm

 

[mermaidwannabe]

That puts things in perspective. We probably have more bear fatalities here in Montana.

 

[DisneyVillain]

Pinellas county had 1 confirmed shark bite last year.

 

[LuvN~Travel]

We never saw any sharks at Clearwater beach when I was a teen. However, we'd go 'down the road' to Indian Rocks beach to swim as well, and people would be catching pup sharks off of the pier there at night. Somehow, I appreciated Clearwater Beach more.
Kim

 

[Turner5]

I know what you mean. I am getting more fearful as I age (with children). I use to never think twice about a shark bite. Too much TV and news, I think. Now, I certainly think about it!

 

[Golf4food]

"Volusia County (Daytona Beach) is the "Sharkbite Capital of the World", with 178 bites (no fatalities)."

See, even the sharks have a hard time resisting all of those scantilly clad (or non-clad!) co-eds during Spring Break...

Having lived in Florida all my life, with an uncle who was a marine biologist in the Keys, I can further confirm the fact that you are much more likely to win the lottery or be killed by lightening while in Florida!

Or be killed by a bad driving Snowbird!

 

[buzz2400]

don't swim at dawn or dusk. Sharks can possibly mistake you as a food source. Sharks don't "attack" people. They mistake you as a food source, like if you have a black wet suit on and on a surf board you look like a seal which is what some sharks eat. Also don't watch the movie this sunday about sharks attacking, which will not portray sharks as they really are. More humans kills sharks then sharks kill humans. Swim and enjoy.

 

[mermaidwannabe]

Thanks to everyone with supplying what I wanted to hear.

The being killed by a Snowbird comment was funny.

 

[NickandLivvysmom]

My 9 year old is doing a project on sharks and I have learned so much.... I agree with everything the above posters said.... You also should not wear bright, or flashy bathing suits..... That attracks a sharks attention. You have a better chance of dying from a bee sting than a shark attacking you! We are going on a Disney cruise next month and I am glad I (I mean my son) did this report. Really put my mind at ease......

 

[Gupsmom]

I also don't swim in the ocean during "that time of the month."

Sheila

Didn't really think of that. I'm guessing that taking my kids for walks along the sand bars (going to longboat key) and shelling should be safe. I'm not exactly one to go SWIM in the ocean anyway.

Jess