Sharks reportedly taking striped bass from fishermen, Cape Cod researchers tag shark near whale carcass off Scituate

BOSTON — If you’re out on the water fishing for striped bass, keep a lookout for hungry apex predators.

Cape Cod shark researchers have gotten several recent reports of great white sharks taking striped bass at the side of fishermen’s boats.

This is not a new phenomenon for the waters off Massachusetts, as sharks were spotted last summer jumping out of the water to catch striped bass on fishing lines.

After some recent incidents, shark scientists want fishermen to know how fast sharks can snatch striped bass.

“Fishermen should keep this in mind when retrieving or releasing fish,” posted shark biologist John Chisholm, who confirms shark sightings for the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy.

“There have been more than a few close calls and I hope by raising awareness we can avoid incidents of people getting hurt or worse,” he added. “If you do have an encounter like this please report it.”

These incidents haven’t only happened along the Cape. A white shark recently took a hooked striped bass boat side near Scarborough, Maine, according to the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy’s Sharktivity app.

Meanwhile, shark scientist Greg Skomal tagged his first white shark of the season the other day, as the research team took advantage of a dead whale floating off Scituate.

The whale carcass recently attracted many sharks for a feast in Cape Cod Bay.

“First tag of the season!” the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy posted, adding, “Dr. Greg Skomal with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries working with the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy was able to tag one white shark!”

“The team took the opportunity to trailer the research boat up to Scituate, MA where a whale carcass has been observed with multiple white sharks feeding on it,” the Conservancy posted. “It’s a unique opportunity for us to watch and learn as individual white sharks feed!”

The Sharktivity app has also been full of posts with seals being spotted with white shark bites. For instance, a dead seal with a shark bite was seen last week near Truro’s Head of the Meadow Beach. Also, an injured seal with a shark bite was spotted off Chatham’s Monomoy Island.

But sharks are apparently not the only predators going after seals. A coyote was recently seen attacking a seal along Provincetown’s Race Point Beach.