Alabama stands out because of its beautiful white sand, dreamy beaches, and warm waters that fill the bays and estuaries. No wonder several shark species call the waters of Alabama their home- some seasonal. At the same time, a few, like the finetooth, tiger, and hammerhead, are more common visitors here. In August 2022, a 10-12 foot long hammerhead was spotted swimming off the Orange Beach coast chasing stingrays.
Another common shark here is the bull shark, found along the beaches. Alabama’s record catch in 2015 was a bull shark weighing 336 pounds and 8 ounces caught after a 3-hour struggle. The record of the tiger shark surpasses the bull, with a 595-pound shark caught here in July 2022.
List of the Different Types of Sharks in Alabama
| Species | Maximum Size | Aggressiveness |
Atlantic Sharpnose Shark |
2-4 feet | Moderately aggressive |
| Blacktip Shark | 5-8 feet | Moderately aggressive |
Bull Shark |
7-12 feet | Highly aggressive |
| Finetooth Shark | 5-6 feet | Not aggressive |
| Scalloped Hammerhead | 9-12 feet | Moderately aggressive |
Tiger Shark |
10-14 feet | Highly aggressive |
Blacknose Shark |
3-5 feet | Not aggressive |
Bonnethead Shark |
4-5 feet | Not aggressive |
Dusky Shark |
9 -12 feet | Not aggressive (until provoked) |
| Great Hammerhead Shark | 15-20 feet | Highly aggressive |
Lemon Shark |
9-10 feet | Not aggressive |
Shortfin Mako Shark |
6.5-9.5 feet | Highly aggressive |
Sandbar Shark |
5.5-8.5 feet | Not aggressive |
Silky Shark |
7-10 feet | Highly aggressive |
Nurse Shark |
7-8 feet | Not aggressive |
| Gulper Shark | 2.5-3 feet | Not aggressive |
| Gulf Smoothound | 3.5-4.5 feet | Not aggressive |
| Sand Tiger Shark | 7-10 feet | Not aggressive (due to their small mouths) |
Spinner Shark |
7-8 feet | Not aggressive |
FAQs
1. Are there great white sharks found in Alabama?
In 2021, the OCEARCH pinged two great whites along the Gulf Shore. Edith, a female great white, weighed 1185 pounds and measured around 11 feet 8 inches. The other great white, Cabot, was 533 pounds and 9 feet 8 inches. They spotted a third shark with great whites, a tiger shark SouthJaw lighter than the other two, just 200 pounds and 5 inches.
2. Has there been shark attacks in Alabama?
Shark attacks are rare in Alabama. Yet, when speaking about the same, it is essential to mention the one that occurred in 2001. 47-year-old Chuck Anderson was struck by a 6-foot-long bull shark weighing around 180 pounds. Though he survived the bite, he lost his right arm in the accident.
