Imagine standing on the beach, casting your fishing line into calm waters, only to hook one of the ocean’s most feared predators.
That’s exactly what happened to Hans Brings off the coast of Massachusetts, when he unexpectedly reeled in a juvenile tiger shark just a few feet from the shoreline.
The scene unfolded at Popponesset Beach, along the southern edge of Cape Cod—a place usually known for sunbathing, not shark encounters.
But this wasn’t just a rare occurrence.
Experts are now saying it’s part of a much bigger trend driven by climate change.
Climate Change Is Shifting Shark Territory
Warmer oceans are no longer just an abstract problem—they’re now bringing aggressive, warm-water sharks like tiger sharks into areas they historically avoided.
According to marine scientists, as Atlantic waters heat up, predators like tiger, bull, and hammerhead sharks are migrating north and settling in.
“This is becoming the new normal,” said John Chisholm, a shark expert with the New England Aquarium.
“We’ve been seeing more small tiger sharks like this one every summer. They’re expanding their range.”
And while Brings released the four-foot-long shark safely back into the sea, its presence near Cape Cod has definitely raised alarms.
Great White Spotted Lurking Nearby
Just days before the tiger shark catch, scientists tracked a massive 14-foot great white shark cruising a mere 30 miles off Nantucket.
Nicknamed “Contender,” the shark weighs a whopping 1,653 pounds and is the largest great white ever tagged in the Atlantic Ocean.
First spotted off the Florida-Georgia coast earlier this year, Contender has since traveled over 1,000 miles up the East Coast.
It’s now patrolling prime seal-hunting territory near Massachusetts—a chilling thought for anyone familiar with the original Jaws, which was filmed nearby on Martha’s Vineyard.
Scientists Say It’s No Coincidence
Experts believe both the tiger shark and Contender sightings are tied to shifting ocean temperatures caused by climate change.
As John Chisholm put it, “These waters are now within their comfort zone.”
Tiger sharks—sometimes called the “garbage cans of the sea” due to their tendency to eat just about anything—are now likely to hunt the local seal population, similar to great whites.
That raises concerns not just for wildlife, but for beachgoers, too.
What You Should Know Before You Swim
Marine biologist Andriana Fragola offered practical advice for anyone planning to hit the water this summer: don’t panic if you see a shark.
“The best thing to do is stay calm and slowly back out of the water,” she explained.
“Keep your eyes on the shark—it helps to look like a predator, not prey.”
Splashing, screaming, or flailing will only attract more attention.
If a shark continues to approach, as a last resort, you could push down on its head to redirect it.
But ideally, the encounter ends long before that.
Sharks Aren’t Hunting Us—But Mistakes Happen
While shark attacks on humans remain rare, Chisholm reminded the public that accidents do happen.
“They’re not targeting people,” he said.
“But all it takes is one bite in the wrong place and it could be fatal.”
With places like Nantucket, Cape Cod, and the Boston coast full of swimmers, kayakers, and surfers this time of year, the presence of large predators like Contender and tiger sharks understandably stirs concern.
What’s Ahead for the East Coast?
Between the surprise tiger shark catch and the great white prowling offshore, it’s clear that shark activity along the East Coast is changing.
For now, experts are urging beachgoers to stay alert, respect the ocean, and understand that they are entering a habitat that increasingly belongs to these powerful predators.
And with more warm-water species heading north every summer, it’s likely we’ll be seeing more shark headlines in the future—not fewer.