Cape Might Just be Next “Hot Spot” for Sharks

Tiger shark - Credit: Richard Ling

The people in attendance mowed down on cheese and crackers, celery and crisps. But as soon as Greg Skomal, a state shark expert, opened up his mouth, he told them what it really meant to chow down.

Skomal, who was the guest of honor at the Harwich Conservation Trust’s yearly get together this past Sunday evening, gave the people in attendance at Wequassett Resort the low down on great white sharks. He told of tagging them off Chatham’s coast near Monomoy. He explained how they weren’t very discriminant about what they chowed down on, and how they hunt a myriad of fish. Given that there is an abundant supply of gray seals in the area, and it’s ever increasing, more and more great white sharks are going to be making their way to the waters of the Cape every summer.

“You can eat as much popcorn you want or you can have one big steak,” Skomal commented, which accurately depicts why great white sharks like to pick out the gray seals in the area, especially near Monomoy. Just one gray seal can satisfy a great white shark for one to two months.

According to Skomal, who happens to be a shark expert with the state Division of Marine Fisheries, has commented no one can know for sure just how many great white sharks make an appearance every year, but it is becoming quite a “hot spot” off the Cape.