Question: What is the most common shark in North Carolina’s ocean waters?
Answer: The Atlantic sharpnose shark (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae) is among the most common in North Carolina waters. It frequents both estuarine and oceanic areas, especially in summer and fall, with pups common in the sounds, which adults use as nurseries. Sandbar sharks can grow to be about 4 feet long, while their pups are around 1 foot in length.
