New Jersey has around 15-20 shark species that migrate to its shores seasonally or may be found in the Jersey waters all year round. The makos, dogfish, tiger, and sand tiger sharks are the ones to be spotted quite a few times, if not always. In contrast, the bigger ones, like the basking and whale sharks, are a rare find, making sporadic appearances here.
The 200 00 acres of salt marshes are ideal shark nurseries for the juveniles to stay and grow to a considerable length before venturing into the ocean for a more challenging life. They even seek shelter here from potential predators by taking refuge in the thick marsh grasses and feed on rays, fish, and crustaceans found abundantly in the wetlands.
The smooth dogfish shark’s nursery was traced along the Little Egg Harbor and Great Bay areas. Whereas, the sand tiger shark’s nursery exists along the southern shore of Long Island.
List of the Different Types of Sharks in New Jersey
| Species | Maximum Size | Aggressiveness |
| Smooth Dogfish | 4-5 feet | Not aggressive (due to their blunt teeth) |
| Sandbar Shark | 5.5-8.5 feet | Not aggressive |
| Sand Tiger Shark | 7-10 feet | Not aggressive (due to their small mouths) |
| Blacktip Shark | 5-8 feet | Moderately aggressive |
| Thresher Shark | 10-18 feet | Not aggressive |
| Shortfin Mako Shark | 6.5-9.5 feet | Highly aggressive |
| Blue Shark | 6-11 feet | Not aggressive |
| Great White Shark | 11-16 feet | Highly aggressive |
| Chain Catshark | 1.5-2.5 feet | Not aggressive (because of their small size) |
| Dusky Shark | 9 -12 feet | Not aggressive (until provoked) |
| Scallopped Hammerhead | 9-12 feet | Moderately aggressive |
| Porbeagle | 6-12 feet | Not aggressive |
| Whale Shark | 18-32 feet | Not aggressive |
