Basking Sharks Spotted Off The Coast In Cape May County

CAPE MAY COUNTY, NJ — Seeing a dorsal fin in the water at the shore would alarm most people. For the Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center, it's exciting, as twice in two weeks, a basking shark has been spotted off the coast.

They shared a video of a basking shark off the coast of Cape May on Aug. 1. The shark, which is the second-largest living shark species, was about five miles off the coast and estimated to be 15 to 20 feet long.

Just a week prior, another basking shark of about the same length was spotted just off the coast in Wildwood, according to the Cape May Whale Watch. They said these were two different sharks as notches on the dorsal fins did not match.

Despite their intimidating size, basking sharks are "quite harmless," according to Oceana International. They grow up to 45 feet in length and weigh 10,000 pounds, but these massive creatures filter feed and eat tiny planktons.

Basking sharks have large home ranges, but to be spotted off the Jersey Shore is a "rare sighting," according to the Cape May Whale Watch.

Another smaller shark was spotted at the shore in Cape May Point recently. It came up close to the beach after being caught in some waves, according to the Wildwood Video Archive. That shark was about five feet in length, the Wildwood Video Archive said.

Sandbar sharks and dogfish are some of the smaller species often spotted on the coastline.