Sharks, rays & skates

Cartilaginous fish of Mid-Atlantic waters reachable from Ocean City: sandbar and sharpnose nearshore, mako and thresher farther out, plus skates and rays on the bottom. Each card opens a Nature Guide viewing page. Fishing content stays on the Fishing hub.

Bony fish Nature Guide overview Shark fishing guide Fishing: offshore

How to use this sharks & rays guide

  1. Open a card for viewing and ID. Nature pages cover recognition, biology, where/when to look, and safe viewing—not shark fishing seasons.
  2. Expect brief glimpses. Most visitors see a fin, wing, or dark shape from the Inlet, beach, or boat rail—binoculars beat chasing into the surf.
  3. Keep Fishing separate. Harvest rules and the shark fishing guide stay on the Fishing hub.

9 featured species for nature viewing. Many sharks are protected or highly regulated—angling notes stay on the Fishing hub (secondary link on each nature detail page).

Showing 9 of 9 species

Atlantic Shortfin Mako Shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) — Ocean City, Maryland Atlantic Shortfin Mako Shark Isurus oxyrinchus · ray · ★★★★★ U.S. fishermen may not land or retain Atlantic shortfin mako sharks. Atlantic Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias) — Ocean City, Maryland Atlantic Spiny Dogfish Squalus acanthias · ray · ★★★★★ The Atlantic spiny dogfish fishery operates from Maine to Florida and from inshore to offshore waters on the edge of the continental shelf. The spiny dogfish fishery uses predomina Atlantic Common Thresher Shark (Alopias vulpinus) — Ocean City, Maryland Atlantic Common Thresher Shark Alopias vulpinus · ray · ★★★★☆ U.S. wild-caught Atlantic common thresher shark is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations. Atlantic Sharpnose Shark (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae) — Ocean City, Maryland Atlantic Sharpnose Shark Rhizoprionodon terraenovae · ray · ★★★★☆ U.S. wild-caught Atlantic sharpnose shark is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations. Northeast Skate Complex (—) — Ocean City, Maryland Northeast Skate Complex — · skate · ★★★★☆ The Northeast skate complex fishery consists of seven species: Winter Skate (Leucoraja ocellata) — Ocean City, Maryland Winter Skate Leucoraja ocellata · ray · ★★★★☆ Winter skate is managed as a part of the Northeast Skate Complex along with six other skate species in the same fishery management plan. Of these species, winter skates are the pri Atlantic Blacktip Shark (Carcharhinus limbatus) — Ocean City, Maryland Atlantic Blacktip Shark Carcharhinus limbatus · ray · ★★★☆☆ U.S. wild-caught Atlantic blacktip shark is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations. Giant Manta Ray (Mobula birostris) — Ocean City, Maryland Giant Manta Ray Mobula birostris · ray · ★★★☆☆ The giant manta ray is the world’s largest ray with a wingspan of up to 26 feet. They are filter feeders and eat large quantities of zooplankton. Giant manta rays are slow-growing, Sandbar Shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus) — Ocean City, Maryland Sandbar Shark Carcharhinus plumbeus · ray · ★★★☆☆ The sandbar shark is one of the largest shark species found in coastal waters. True to their name, sandbar sharks prefer sandy or muddy areas in temperate and tropical waters throu

Beach Blog on Sharks & rays

Trip reads written for this hub—pacing and advice, not a second directory.

All posts about Sharks & rays
Teaching kids about Ocean City sharks without creating lifelong fear — Beach Blog photo, Ocean City, Maryland

Teaching kids about Ocean City sharks without creating lifelong fear

Grace Okonkwo Sharks & rays

Shark tooth beachcombing morning: local pace, sharp eyes, realistic pockets — Beach Blog photo, Ocean City, Maryland

Shark tooth beachcombing morning: local pace, sharp eyes, realistic pockets

Ryan Shaw Sharks & rays

All Nature videos