Sienna Rhodes
The Albemarle Sound borders the beaches of North Carolina's Outer Banks and winds into the mainland estuaries and streams. In recent years, there have been several reports of great white sharks in these waters. While the presence of large sharks in the Albemarle Sound is not unheard of, the appearance of a great white shark is significant. In 2019, a ping from a shark known as Mary Kay was recorded in the Atlantic Ocean, with another ping in the Albemarle Sound later that day. Additionally, tracking data from Ocearch, a marine research organization, revealed that a large male great white shark named Cabot appeared in the Albemarle Sound in 2019. These sightings highlight the diverse marine life in the region and underscore the importance of understanding shark behaviour and migration patterns.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Albemarle Sound, North Carolina, USA |
| Water Type | Estuaries and streams |
| Shark Species | Great White, Tiger Shark, Bull Shark |
| Shark Migration | Summer and early fall |
| Shark Sizes | 4-foot female, 8-foot female, 8.2-foot bull shark, 10-foot great white |
| Shark Weight | 300-pound tiger shark, 500-pound great white |
| Tracking Organizations | OCEARCH, Ocearch |
| Tracking Methods | Satellite trackers |
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What You'll Learn
Great white sharks have been tracked in Albemarle Sound
A separate great white shark, named Cabot, was also tracked in the Albemarle Sound in 2019. Weighing 500 pounds and measuring almost 10 feet long, Cabot was first tagged by researchers in 2018 off the coast of Nova Scotia, Canada. Since then, he has travelled from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico and back.
While it may be surprising to some, the presence of great white sharks in Albemarle Sound is not unusual. The sound borders the beaches of the Outer Banks and extends into the North Carolina mainland's estuaries and streams. As such, it is not uncommon for sharks to venture inside the inlets to chase prey. In fact, North Carolina represents a transition zone between the temperate marine ecosystem to the north and the subtropical ecosystem to the south, meaning the state has sharks year-round.
In addition to great white sharks, other species such as bull sharks have been caught near the mouth of the Pamlico River, and large adults have been encountered in the rivers of North Carolina.
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Sharks ping when they surface
In 2013, researchers at OCEARCH, a nonprofit research organisation, tagged sharks to learn more about their migratory patterns. OCEARCH's tracker is a free app that allows users to observe the navigational patterns of animals that have been tagged with satellite tracking technology.
A ping indicates that a shark's satellite tag broke the water's surface long enough to transmit location information. For example, in 2025, a 1400-pound great white shark named Breton was pinged six times off Florida's eastern coast as it migrated toward warmer waters from the northern Atlantic Ocean. The first ping happened around 11:37 a.m. on January 9, with subsequent pings at 2:55 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 5:49 p.m. on the same day. Breton was pinged again at 9:53 a.m. on January 10 and 3:10 p.m. on January 11.
In another instance, a great white shark named Mary Kay was recorded in the Atlantic Ocean off Kill Devil Hills at 7:48 a.m. on a Sunday, with another ping in the Albemarle Sound, northeast of Columbia, at 9:12 p.m. the same day.
OCEARCH's data provides strong evidence that tagged animals show long-term survival and long-distance migrations, indicating normal function and reproductive cycles. This method of tagging has been used on sharks for over half a century and, while it may cause brief discomfort, there is no evidence that it impacts their behaviour or survival post-release.
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Juvenile sharks and smaller species are found in the sounds
While large sharks have been spotted in Albemarle Sound, such as the 500-pound great white shark named Cabot, juvenile sharks and smaller species are also found in the sounds. The smaller sounds behind North Carolina's barrier islands are frequented by sharks. Juvenile sharks and smaller shark species can be found within these sounds, and adults will sometimes venture inside the inlets in pursuit of prey, such as schools of fish. Most sharks tend to stick to the saltier parts of the sound, but bull sharks can be found in freshwater areas as well. Juvenile and adult bull sharks have been spotted near the mouth of the Pamlico River, and large adults have been encountered by both fishermen and researchers in the rivers of North Carolina.
The presence of juvenile sharks in the sounds can be attributed to the fact that North Carolina serves as a transition zone between the temperate marine ecosystem to the north and the subtropical ecosystem to the south. This unique location means that the state sits at the northern range limit for warm-water species and the southern limit for cooler-water species. As a result, various shark species are present in North Carolina year-round, with the highest concentrations occurring in late spring, early summer, and early fall when many sharks migrate through the area.
During the summer, people are generally more concerned about the presence of sharks since this is the season when they are most likely to be in the water. However, it's important to note that shark bites or attacks are rare in North Carolina. While there may be a perception of an increased risk due to media coverage or popular culture, the chances of encountering a shark, especially in the sounds, are relatively low.
In summary, while larger sharks have been known to venture into Albemarle Sound, it is primarily juvenile sharks and smaller shark species that are found in the sounds of North Carolina. These younger sharks take advantage of the sheltered and food-rich environments that the sounds provide, while adults typically patrol the open waters and only enter the inlets when chasing prey. The sounds serve as important nurseries for these younger sharks, providing them with a temporary refuge during their early stages of development.
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Sharks are present year-round in North Carolina
North Carolina is home to a variety of shark species, and these sharks are present in the state's waters all year round. The state's coastal waters are frequented by sharks due to its unique position at the transition zone between the temperate marine ecosystem to the north and the subtropical ecosystem to the south. This geographic feature makes North Carolina the northern range limit for warm-water species and the southern limit for cooler water-preferring species.
The presence of sharks in North Carolina has been a topic of interest, especially following a record-setting string of eight shark bites on people in one summer, which is about four times the average for the state. While most shark species in North Carolina tend to stick to the saltier parts of the sounds, the bull shark, with its ability to tolerate freshwater, can be found in the state's rivers as well. Juvenile bull sharks and adults have been caught near the mouth of the Pamlico River, and large adult bull sharks have been encountered by both fishermen and researchers in the rivers of North Carolina.
In addition to bull sharks, other shark species known to inhabit North Carolina's waters include blacktip, spinner, bonnethead, and Atlantic sharpnose sharks, which are commonly seen during the summer months. Overwintering species include spiny dogfish, juvenile sandbar sharks, and even great white sharks. Great white sharks have been tracked by researchers entering North Carolina's sounds, such as the Albemarle Sound, the Pamlico Sound, and the Currituck Sound.
While shark sightings and encounters can occur at any time of year in North Carolina, the highest concentrations of sharks are typically observed during late spring, early summer, and early fall. During these periods, many shark species migrate through the state's waters, coinciding with the migration of other marine life such as sea turtles and right whales.
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Bull sharks can be found in the rivers of North Carolina
Bull sharks are a species of shark that can tolerate low salinity and even freshwater. They are known to venture into rivers, and have been found as far up the Mississippi River as southern Illinois. In North Carolina, they have been sighted in the Pamlico Sound, which is now recognized as a key nursery area for bull sharks.
Bull sharks are not the only species of shark found in North Carolina's rivers and estuaries. The coastal waters of North Carolina lie along a major migration corridor for marine species, and most shark species occurring along the U.S. East Coast will enter the state's waters at some point during the year. The sounds, estuaries, and ocean waters in and around North Carolina provide a variety of habitats for water-dwelling species, including an abundance of sharks.
While some shark species in North Carolina rarely enter estuaries, others use the sounds as nursery habitats, and their young may remain there for months. Sharpnose sharks, for example, use Core Sound and other southern sounds as nurseries, and their foot-long pups are often caught by recreational fishermen. Blacknose sharks, which reach a maximum size of about 5 feet, can be found close to the beach south of Cape Hatteras during the summer and will occasionally enter inlets.
In addition to bull sharks, other shark species commonly found in North Carolina's waters include sandbar sharks, which can reach lengths of 8 feet, and sand tiger sharks, which can grow to 12 feet. Scalloped hammerheads are the most common large hammerhead species in North Carolina, although their population has been affected by overfishing. White sharks, which are the largest predatory fish in the ocean, can also be found in North Carolina waters, typically staying well offshore but occasionally venturing closer to the beach.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, sharks have been spotted in Albemarle Sound. In 2019, a ping from a great white shark known as "Mary Kay" was recorded in the Atlantic Ocean. Another ping from the same shark was recorded later that day in the Albemarle Sound.
Great white sharks are not unusual along the North Carolina coast. In 2019, a 500-pound great white shark named Cabot was tracked to the Albemarle Sound.
North Carolina's waters are home to a variety of shark species, including blacktip, spinner, bonnethead, Atlantic sharpnose, spiny dogfish, juvenile sandbar sharks, and bull sharks.
