Bay Head Mayor Warns of ‘Jaws‑Like’ Risks From Surf Shark Fishing

For as long as anyone can remember, evenings on the Jersey Shore have been punctuated by the clatter of surf anglers casting lines into the Atlantic, hoping to snag a shark or a big game fish. It’s a tradition that many locals cherish – a bit of salty sport before the lights go out.

But this summer, the ritual has taken a high‑tech turn. Some fishermen are now dropping bait from drones and kayaks, creating a steady stream of chum that spreads a pungent scent far offshore. Mayor Bill Curtis of Bay Head, speaking with ABC News, called the practice “unconscionable,” warning that the lure could tempt a shark to mistake a panicked child for food.

“You’re basically dragging predators right up to the shore,” Curtis said, his voice edged with frustration. “The chumming is just… it’s reckless.”

Chumming, for the uninitiated, isn’t just a single hook tossed into the surf. It involves scattering chopped fish or other attractants to create a scented trail that draws hungry sharks and other predators. Anglers then drop their baited hooks into that invisible highway, hoping for a bite.

In New Jersey, surf fishing – even for sharks – is legal, and the state’s regulations don’t prohibit the use of drones to deliver bait. The activity typically stays after dusk, when beaches are less crowded, but the new technology lets fishermen reach waters two to three football fields out, where sharks often roam.

Recent years have seen a surge in shark sightings along the coast, spurred in part by social‑media buzz. A 12‑foot tiger shark was hauled onto the sand at Island Beach State Park in early August, and a 16‑foot great white named Mary Lee once captured headlines after being tagged by the research group OCEarch.

Local tackle shop owner Scott Thomas of Grumpy’s Tackle in Seaside Park says the shark population has swelled, and anglers are now pulling three to seven sharks a night. Species most commonly caught include brown, sandbar, sand‑tiger and spinner sharks, with occasional tiger and bull sharks making an appearance.

Most of those catches are released, as required by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. “We have a sign on the freezer reminding folks of the rules,” Thomas explained. “We want them to do it right so the sharks can swim away.”

The debate heated up in mid‑July when a Bay Head beach‑access official posted concerns about the practice on the borough’s Facebook group. The post sparked a flurry of backlash from fishing advocates and was eventually removed, but the controversy lingered.

Despite the mayor’s worries, the Jersey Shore has not recorded a shark bite in 2026. The state’s historical record lists only 15 attacks dating back to the 1800s, the most famous being the 1916 Matawan Creek incidents that inspired the movie "Jaws." The last confirmed bite in New Jersey occurred in May 2023, when a surfer was nipped in Stone Harbor.

Nevertheless, experts keep a wary eye on bull sharks, which are known to bite humans. Thomas notes an uptick in bull shark sightings this year, with several caught within casting distance of the shoreline, even in nearby Barnegat Bay and the Toms River.

One theory for the sharks’ closer approach points to the massive menhaden‑reduction fleets that harvest millions of pounds of baitfish just beyond the three‑mile state‑controlled zone. Those vessels may be shifting the food chain, nudging sharks nearer to shore in search of meals.

At the end of the day, the conversation balances two passions: a love for the ocean’s thrill and a responsibility to keep beachgoers safe. Whether drones and chum will remain part of the Jersey Shore’s summer soundtrack is a question the community will keep debating as long as the tide rolls in.