NBC Philadelphia is reporting that a boater alerted the Coast Guard that he saw a 12′ great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) off of New Jersey’s Island Beach. The boater reported that the shark was at least 200 yards from the shore, but “not too far” from the bathers at the nearest beach. Lifeguards were alerted after the report, but no beaches were closed as a result. The boater who reported the sighting was the only witness to report seeing the shark.

While some remain skeptical of the reported sighting, due to the fact that white shark sightings in the area are rare, it would not be out of the realm of possibility for a white shark would be in the area this time of year. Tracking data has shown that white sharks migrate up the East Coast as summer approaches and water temperatures rise.