Occurrence of Carcharhinus isodon (Finetooth Shark) in Florida Bay

Abstract

Carcharhinus isodon (finetooth shark) is a migratory shark found in coastal waters of the southeastern United States and is well documented in the waters of north Florida in both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. The southernmost reports are from Lemon Bay (27°N), just north of Charlotte Harbor on the west coast and from Port Salerno (27°N) on the east coast. Four C. isodon were captured on bottom-set longline in Florida Bay, just north of 25°N latitude, during routine sampling for Pristis pectinata (smalltooth sawfish). These captures extend the southern range of C. isodon in Florida to approximately 25°N and increase the likelihood of exchange between the Atlantic and Gulf stocks.