South Florida experienced its first prolonged cold snap this week causing coastal waters to experience its first dip in temperature of the season. This helped bring bait fish closer to the shoreline so it is no surprise that big sharks followed them in.
This, of course, is not a recent phenomenon. The proliferation of cameras, especially of aerial drones, has led to greater documentation of this behavior. The result is some fascinating footage interacting with humans in extremely close proximity.
For instance, this footage from drone operator Kenny Melendez, was shot over Thanksgiving weekend showing what appears to be a 7 to 9 foot tiger shark cruising along Miami Beach, sometimes just feet from beachgoers.
Just three days later a large lemon shark was spotted in the surf of Venice Beach on the other side of the state. Joseph John Orchulli shot these photos of a five-plus footer that forced swimmers out of the water.
Large schools of sharks, including blacktips, hammerheads and bulls, are common this time of the year as they make their annual migration south into the warmer waters. Despite their imposing numbers, these sharks pose virtually no threat to humans that may encounter during this yearly trek.