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Surfer Chomped by Shark in…Shark Bite Capital of the World

Originally posted on SURFER | By Dashel Pierson | Last updated Jul 7, 2025 11:51 AM ET

Just in case it wasn’t crystal clear already, Florida is a particularly sharky place. And especially when it comes to the surfing hotspot of New Smyrna Beach.

NSB is so sharky, that it’s been dubbed with the unfortunate moniker as the “shark bite capital of the world.” And surprise, surprise, yet another surfer has been nibbled while in the water at NSB adding to the list of some 300-plus recorded attacks since the 1800s.

The 40-year-old man in this attack was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

One surfer, who was in New Smyrna Beach, when the attack went down had this to say:

“It was daunting being out there because we know there are sharks in the water. Traveling up from West Palm, we know that this is a spot where sharks typically like to come. So, coming here, I knew there was a chance. We were a little nervous, but we still go out there.”

Consistently, Florida and Volusia County are top the list in the United States and the world for most shark attacks per annum. According to the International Shark Attack File, which recently released its annual report from last year:

“With warm waters and ample shoreline, Florida had a total of 14 bites, more than any other state. Of these, eight occurred in Volusia County, which bears the unofficial title of shark bite capital of the world. Though unconfirmed, many of these bites were likely from blacktip sharks, whose breeding grounds stretch along the northeast Florida coastline. Many of the sharks in this area are juveniles and haven’t yet fully developed the ability to distinguish between humans and their natural prey, which includes fish, stingrays and other sharks.”

Florida surfers beware.

This article first appeared on SURFER and was syndicated with permission.

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