Another shark species off Massachusetts is taking striped bass from fishermen

It’s not just great white sharks that are taking stripers from fishermen these days.

Porbeagle sharks — which stick around the Bay State all year — have been spotted several times in the last week chomping on striped bass that fishermen caught.

Those on a recent whale watch off the Cape even got a front-row seat to the action.

“We hope you lunge after your Fourth of July hot dog like this porbeagle going after a striped bass on our Provincetown whale watch yesterday!” Captain John Boats posted.

“It was incredible to see this top predator in its element in this National Geographic moment,” Captain John Boats added. “Our naturalist said it may have even been his favorite whale watch he has ever been on… Thanks to MA Sharks for your support and for showing us how to ID different shark species!”

MA Sharks is run by shark researcher John Chisholm, who on the day before July 4th received four different reports of porbeagle sharks taking striped bass.

“It was a busy day for porbeagle shark sightings yesterday,” Chisholm posted. “This is one of four reports we received yesterday of them taking striped bass from the N Shore to Nantucket. If you have an encounter like this, please let me know.”

Meanwhile over the holiday weekend, great white sharks were spotted all across the region.

In Cape Cod Bay, an 8-foot white shark was seen about two miles west of Wellfleet’s Jeremy Point.

On the South Shore, a dead seal with shark bites was found along Rexhame Beach in Marshfield.

And up on the North Shore, a small white shark was spotted about five miles off Marblehead.

Then much farther north, a beach was closed to swimming in Maine after a report of two sharks near Reid State Park.

“Swimming areas currently have been cleared,” the Maine town of Georgetown posted Sunday morning. “Be safe, stay alert, and enjoy Georgetown.”

A couple hours later, the swimming area at Reid was reopened.

“If you are in or on the water, please stay alert,” the town added.

White sharks come to the region every summer and fall to hunt for seals close to shore.

Before heading into the water, Chisholm urges people to review shark safety guidelines, including: be aware that sharks hunt for seals in shallow water; stay close to shore where rescuers can reach you; don’t isolate yourself; avoid areas where seals are present; avoid areas where schools of fish are visible; avoid murky or low-visibility water; limit splashing; and follow all signage and flag warnings at beaches and instructions of the lifeguards.

Chisholm also encourages beachgoers to use the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy’s Sharktivity app to view shark activity, get shark alerts and report sightings.