Swimmer Bitten by Smooth Hammerhead off Jacksonville Beach

On the evening of Tuesday, April 6, 2005, a swimming incident occurred in the Atlantic Ocean off Jacksonville Beach in Duval County, Florida. A female swimmer was in waist-deep water with her two children when she felt something push against her left leg. She was positioned closer to shore than other swimmers in the water at the time. The contact came as a complete surprise to the victim. A small smooth hammerhead shark was observed swimming away from the area following the incident. The injury consisted of a crescent-shaped pattern of small puncture marks on the victim's left calf, classified as minor. Environmental factors that may have contributed to the shark's presence included recent rainfall that had cooled the water temperature, potentially drawing sharks closer to shore. Additionally, increased fishing activity at the nearby Jacksonville Beach pier may have attracted the shark to the area in search of food. Local authorities noted that the shark was likely hunting for fish and may not have clearly identified what it was biting. Officials emphasized the importance of allowing the public to safely enjoy beach activities while remaining vigilant about water safety. The incident occurred during evening hours on April 6, 2005, under partly cloudy skies with an air temperature of 80°F, 70% humidity, and a 16 mph southeasterly breeze. Sunset occurred at 19:49 that evening.