Unconfirmed Bull Shark Sightings In Navesink River: Cops

RUMSON, NJ – Rumson police are warning locals to think twice before taking a dip in the Navesink River this summer: a string of unconfirmed bull shark sightings have been confirmed near Rumson, according to local authorities.

As of Aug. 14, the sightings seem to be confined to the Navesink River. While the reports have yet to be verified, the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife has been contacted.

“There have been several reports of possible bull shark sightings in the Navesink River in the area of Navesink Avenue in Rumson,” the Borough of Rumson Police Department wrote in a Thursday social media post.

“NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife has been notified. They advised that no sightings have been confirmed as of yet but, as always, there is a possibility that sharks could be in our local waterways”.

Police Chief Scott A. Paterson states that Rumson police have not been made aware of an increase in shark sightings in the Navesink River, although compact gatherings of stingrays swimming near the surface of the water could be mistaken for the dorsal fin of a shark.

The bull shark is known for its ability to move into freshwater, namely large coastal rivers and lakes, according to Oceana. Weighing up to 700 pounds and reaching lengths of up to 11 feet, the finned creatures are very aggressive and feed on small sharks and mammals.

There have been no fatal shark attacks reported in New Jersey since the 1920s. Nevertheless, bull shark sightings are not uncommon in warm waters during the late summer months. In fact, it was a series of shark attacks near Long Beach Island, Beach Haven and Matawan in July 1916 that sparked inspiration for the novel (and later, Steven Spielberg classic) “Jaws”.

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