Inside New Jersey’s Enduring Shark Legacy: A Fresh Look at Fear, Folklore and the Story Behind “Jaws”

Americans have imagined sharks as powerful, mysterious creatures beneath the surface for decades. Many developed that fear after Jaws changed how people saw the ocean in 1975. Few knew that New Jersey shaped shark stories before Hollywood made them legends.

NJ Advance Media discovered that shark history, culture, and Shore sightings are deeply connected to New Jersey after months of research. In his seven-chapter series, “The Shark State,” reporter Adam Clark examines a century of fear, science, myth, and surprising events that have shaped the Garden State’s relationship with the ocean’s most misunderstood predator

Journey Began with Childhood Memories. Clark’s editor, Jeff Roberts, recalled a vivid memory that sparked the investigation. In Seaside Heights in the mid-1980s, Roberts saw his younger brother proudly carry a dead baby sand tiger shark with blood on his Mickey Mouse shirt. Strange and unforgettable image started it.

As shark sightings increased along the Jersey Shore and Jaws’ 50th anniversary approached, Roberts revisited New Jersey’s shark history. Clark had no idea that assignment would involve a real-time shark encounter with panic, blood, and a fisherman being treated on camera.

A Reporter Explores NJ Shark History

Clark admitted he knew little about sharks before the investigation. He never saw one at the Jersey Shore in his life. Scientific research, archives, 1916 reports, and Jaws were his sources.

What he found shocked him. Shark attacks on the New Jersey coast in summer 1916 sparked nationwide hysteria. Daily newspapers nationwide covered it. Suspect species were debated by scientists. Beach towns exploded. Jaws’ culture was shaped by that.

There were other revelations. Clark found deep shark history in NJ. The 1960 Shore shark attack sparked decades of scientific research. New Jersey was home to Jaws author Peter Benchley. Legendary New Jersey shark fisherman influenced the story. NJ had movie stars.

He found that New Jersey is a shark state, not just a beach state.

Investigation Alters Significantly. Clark went fishing with professional shark anglers to study shark-human relations. First trip, they waited nine hours for a shark bite. Nothing. No nibble. A Cape May trip later would be memorable. The crew ate after hours of inactivity. An adrenaline rush. Out came cameras. Each person prepared for their first shark encounter. Moments earlier, crew members reminded Clark of the most important rule—stay safe.

Then everything changed. Veteran fisherman Bill Gordon was unexpectedly bitten while handling the shark near the water. The cry, splashing, and blood startled everyone. The injury’s severity was unknown. Gordon stumbled out of the water in shock, Clark saw.

This video captured a crucial investigation moment.

Emergency mode was activated by photographer, EMT, and former lifeguard Andy Mills. While others froze, Mills tourniqueted Gordon’s leg. Andre Malok filmed the rescue and shark thrashing on the line steps away.

A fisherman being treated for a shark bite and the crew struggling to tag the seven-foot shark they had been chasing for months were both dramatic scenes for Clark.

Gordon recovered quickly by remaining calm. The incident confirmed the investigation’s finding that sharks are harmless until rare incidents occur.

Why is NJ Shark State?

Clark proves New Jersey’s shark story goes beyond fear. Science, culture, history, geography, and myth are present. A tale of:

• how one small state changed shark perceptions worldwide
• how rare, unpredictable events become legends
• How pop culture shaped fear more than science
• how modern sightings fit nature’s cycle
• The balance of technology, research, and public awareness today
• More importantly, it shows why New Jersey is central to America’s shark narrative—past, present, and future.

New Understanding after 100 Years of Fear

Clark was surprised by shark misperceptions. Experts repeatedly said shark attacks are rare. Daily risks like mosquito-borne illnesses are statistically higher.

Fear persists.

While harmless, sharks can cause coastal panic, according to the investigation. That conflict, Clark says, makes the story interesting. It shows that humans fear the unknown, even in small danger.

Six months of reporting, one unforgettable story

Clark researched, interviewed, and traveled the state for six months to tell this complex story. He knew the project would be memorable after the shocking bite.

Inquiring about New Jersey’s shark connection led to a fascinating tale of history, science, adrenaline, and personal experience.

The film powerfully shows how one small state created America’s biggest shark legend and continues to shape our view of the ocean’s most fascinating predators.

Sources

NJ Advance Media reporting
Interview content from NJ.com newsroom discussion
Historical and scientific background from public archives and expert statements