Shark week is coming to the Discovery Channel, and people are excited! But here in Destin, every week is Shark Week. If you're renting a boat in Destin, that fact may either terrify you or excite you. So, in honor of shark week, we thought we’d address some of the most frequently asked questions that we get about sharks in Destin.
Are there sharks in Destin?
Yes, of course there are sharks in Destin! We are situated along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, sharks’ natural habitat, and there are a wide variety of sharks that live in the Gulf, such as nurse sharks, hammerhead sharks, reef sharks, and bull sharks.
What are the chances of seeing a shark when I rent a boat in Destin?
Not great. Occasionally, some of our customers will catch one on a fishing boat rental or fishing charter while fishing a few miles offshore, but we rarely get reports of them in more populated boating areas like Crab Island or the bay. This video of a shark caught on one of our fishing boat rentals was taken about 3 miles offshore by some of our customers a few years ago (he broke the line and got away at the end, but, boy, do they have an exciting story to tell their friends and family at home!):
Should I be scared?
Absolutely not. The general rule of thumb is that sharks are more scared of you than you are of them. If that doesn’t set your mind at ease, keep in mind that there has never been a fatal shark attack in Destin. Ever. Here’s another fun fact: sharks don’t even make the list of the top 19 animals that kill humans. That’s right, you are more likely to be killed by a mosquito than a shark. Bug spray, anyone?
How can I avoid being attacked by a shark?
Local artist (and surfer) Andy Saczynski offers 13 tips to avoid being attacked by a shark in this blog post about sharks. He also has some really cool shark art. Just in time for Shark Week...