Shark Found on Amagansett Beach

The East Hampton Star has reported that a small dead shark, most likely a “young great white” washed up on the beach in Amagansett on Tuesday evening. It was discovered by Ed Michels, The Town of East Hampton’s chief harbormaster. He told the Star on Wednesday that the shark weighed approximately 75 pounds and was four feet long. No injuries were visible on the body of the shark.

Michels kept the shark on ice overnight and then gave it to the scientists at Stony Brook Southampton’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. He said he believes this is the first time a great white has washed up on the beaches in the Town of East Hampton.

This was not the first time a shark has washed up on the shores of Amagansett. In July, 2012, according to a report in 27East a large healthy sand shark weighing between 250 and 300 pounds and measuring approximately eight feet in length was caught in a trap off Little Albert’s beach, also in Amagansett, by Danny Lester, a fisherman.

Lester took pictures of the shark before setting it free in the ocean. The Long Island Aquarium examined Lester’s photographs and concurred with him that the shark was most likely a tiger sand shark.

Michels told the Star that Tuesday’s discovery of a baby great white shark is the first time, to his knowledge, that one has washed up on local beaches. He is quoted as saying “Whales, you name it we got it, but not this.”