Sharks Spotted in the Keansburg Raritan Bay!
- Karen Brittingham-Edmond
- Jul 11
- 4 min read
11 July 2025
New Jersey Marine Life:
Keansburg, NJ--It was a warm and misty morning on the Keansburg boardwalk, with temperatures climbing from the 70s to the low 80s. The Raritan Bay Shoreline had been freshly swept, and the Manhattan skyline, along with the Verrazano Bridge, peeked through the foggy haze. It was the perfect day for a stroll and a little wading in the Bay with my daughter, Ariel.
Following a family tradition passed down from my Grandmother, Cassie Richardson-Rock, I decided to soak my slightly swollen feet in the calm bay water. According to her, standing or sitting with your feet in the sea or bay water was a natural remedy for aching feet. As Ariel and I stood in the water, we noticed families gathering along the south side of the Bay, enjoying the Jersey Shore. To the north, others were swimming and lounging in beach chairs.
But something unusual caught Ariel's eye. "Mom, I THINK I JUST SAW TWO SHARKS IN THE BAY!" she exclaimed. I brushed it off, thinking it was her imagination. But then she shouted again, "Look! There are two sharks in the Bay!"
Curious, I scanned the water--and there they were. Not just two, but a small school of sharks, about eight in total, gliding gracefully through the Bay southward. Each shark was approximately 3.5 to 4 feet long, moving in perfect harmony as they swam. It was a breathtaking sight, and I couldn't help but marvel at their beauty.
We quickly approached the Keansburg Bay Grounds Crew to ask if they had noticed the sharks. They confirmed that these were "dogfish sharks" and mentioned that their presence in the Bay was unusual. They had first noticed the sharks the day before and were surprised to see them in the brackish waters of the Bay, where the Raritan River meets the sea.
Historically, sharks are not common in bays due to the mix of saltwater and freshwater, but climate change may be shifting their habits. Rising ocean temperatures are causing marine life, including sharks, to migrate to new areas in search of food, bringing them closer to beaches and bays. Sandy Hook Lab Internships and Outreach: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/new-england-mid-atlantic/outreach-and-education/sandy-hook-lab-internships-and-outreach
Sharks in Indigenous Culture
Sharks have long held significance in Indigenous cultures, including the Lenape and Sand Hill tribes, who historically inhabited the Raritan River and Bay areas. My own Lenape ancestors, who held pow-wows at Shark River Park in Neptune, New Jersey, up until the 1950s, recognized sharks as powerful and vital creatures.
In Indigenous traditions, sharks are often seen as:
Guardians of the Ocean:
Protectors and overseers of marine life.
Ancestral Spirits:
Representing the interconnectedness of all living things.
Symbols of Strength:
Reflecting resilience and adaptability.
Spiritual Totems:
Embodying courage and wisdom.
Sharks also play a vital role in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems, a fact that Indigenous communities have understood for generations.
Gems of the Shore!
After our adventure at the Bay, we made our way to our favorite bagel haven--GEMS Bagels on Main Street in Keansburg. The moment you step inside, you're greeted with cheerful "Good mornings!" and warm smiles that feel like sunshine on a sandy beach. As I savored the aroma of freshly baked bagels, I couldn't resist sharing my shark tale with the staff members who greeted me. To my surprise, one staff member lit up and exclaimed, "Oh, dogfish sharks? Yes, they've been spotted around here!" She went on to share her own incredible story about a fishing trip on a charter boat. Apparently, she once caught a dogfish shark, and--get this--it barked at her and the other passengers!
Her Bayside tale absolutely floored me. A barking fish? That's just one step away from a talking one, isn't it? My imagination ran wild with the thought of a chatty shark swapping sea stories. But alas, my research later revealed no scientific evidence that dogfish sharks actually bark. Still, who's to say the ocean doesn't hold its own mysteries? After all, the Indigenous peoples of the East Coast have long believed in the legendary Champ of Lake Champlain.
The Abenaki and Iroquois tribes tell tales of a giant creature dwelling in the lake's depths. The Iroquois called these mythical serpents "Onyare'kowa," while the Abenaki named their guardian of the waters "Gitaskog." This dragon-like being, said to patrol the waterways, was more than a creature--it was a spiritual entity, a symbol of the lake's power, and a protector woven into their creation myths.
A Morning to Remember
Our morning at the Bay became an unforgettable adventure. From observing sharks to contemplating their cultural and ecological importance, the day was filled with awe and discovery. Whether it's barking sharks or lake & river dragons, the world is brimming with wonders waiting to be uncovered. So, the next time you visit Keansburg NJ on the Raritan Bay, keep your eyes open--you never know what surprises the water might reveal! Gifs provided by Wix GiF
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