Fisherman spots shark near Merrimack River

SALISBURY, Mass. -- A fisherman reported seeing a shark near the mouth of the Merrimack River in Salisbury on Friday morning.

The shark was spotted about 400 to 500 feet off the coast before 11 a.m.

"We were told by the Coast Guard that there was a report from a couple of fisherman that there was a sighting of a shark jumping up to catch one of their fish that was out there. They were catching stripers in the river," said George Nigro, the Salisbury Beach lifeguard supervisor.

Swimmers at nearby Salisbury Beach were immediately cautioned.

"The lifeguards told people to get out of the water, well they could go into the water up to their knees, but the people who were out further had to come in," said Debbie O'Hare, a beachgoer.

"We got out immediately. We're from out of town, so we just sat on the beach," said Ron Michalski, a beachgoer.

There was lots of commotion on the beach as several agencies, including the Coast Guard, searched the area.

"All of a sudden, officers showed up with their mounted division. They started looking around. A couple of lifeguards showed up with their binoculars. They started looking over the mouth of the river here. Environmental Police came up and down here a couple times," said Bill Leger, a beachgoer.

The sighting is one of several this summer. Beachgoers in Salisbury seem to take it all in stride.

"I don't go in the water anyways because it's too cold, but now I won't go in the water," said a woman.

After combing the waters for more than an hour, officials were unable to make a second shark sighting.

Coast Guard officials advise swimmers and boaters to be aware of their surroundings at all times.

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