Foot-Long Shark Seen Off Sandy Hook Aug. 27

ATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ — A small, injured dogfish shark was spotted very near the beach Monday afternoon at Gateway National Recreation Area Sandy Hook, a park spokeswoman confirmed to Patch.

However, do not be too alarmed: The shark was about one foot long, "about the size of a ruler," National Park spokeswoman Brenda Ling told Patch. Sandy Hook is part of the National Park System.

A beachgoer saw the injured shark near the shoreline at "B" Beach at about 4:30 p.m. Monday, she said. Wildlife officials came and rescued the shark, and then released it further offshore into deeper water.

Ling said she did not know how exactly the shark was injured.

Dogfish shark is a very common species of sharks.

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