New Smyrna Beach has first official shark bite of the year

VOlUSIA COUNTY —
The shark bite capital of the world has its first shark bite of the year.

Volusia Beach Patrol told News 13 that bait fish, murky waters, surfers and sharks are the perfect recipe for shark bites.

The bite happened near the inlet, an area popular with surfers because of the waves and popular with sharks because of the bait fish.
VOlUSIA COUNTY —
The shark bite capital of the world has its first shark bite of the year.

Volusia Beach Patrol told News 13 that bait fish, murky waters, surfers and sharks are the perfect recipe for shark bites.

The bite happened near the inlet, an area popular with surfers because of the waves and popular with sharks because of the bait fish.

Beach Patrol spokesman Captain Jack Driskell said a 21-year-old from Debary was paddling out to catch some waves when a shark bit the surfer in the hand Saturday afternoon.

That surfer was treated at the scene.

Driskell said that shark bite occurred because of conditions in the ocean, conditions similar to Sunday — murky waters, bait fish in the inlet, which attract sharks and plenty of surfers trying to catch some waves.

“We had an outflow tide at the river, which brings in some murkier warmer waters, that also harbors a lot more bait fish. With that combination with some nice waves and several hundred surfers in the water, we’re bound to have some interaction with the humans and sharks,” Driskell said,

Several surfers near the inlet said they saw plenty of sharks swimming near them.

Driskell said beachgoers are asked to get out of the water when there are multiple sightings of sharks swimming near bathers.

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