Sharks Are Regularly Spotted Near Gulf State Park Pier
Gulf Shores News Staff • September 6, 2026
Recent video confirms that sharks may ne near the local beaches
Gulf Shores, Ala. — (GSN) — A recent sighting of sharks swimming in shallow waters around the Gulf State Park pier in Gulf Shores has raised safety awareness among beachgoers and tourists during the busy Labor Day weekend. Bonny Huddleston of Wedowee captured video footage of multiple blacktip sharks swimming remarkably close to the shore. Blacktip sharks, which can grow up to 8 feet in length and travel either solitary or in schools, were seen in close proximity to children swimming nearby, prompting calls for visitors to remain alert.
Because the Gulf State Park pier is a heavily utilized fishing pier, the active fishing and discarded bait or fish scraps naturally attract predatory animals. Sharks are frequently drawn to these waters in search of an easy meal, making their presence around the pier a common occurrence.
To help protect beachgoers, local safety regulations have advanced. In 2025, State Rep. David Faulkner sponsored legislation establishing "Lulu's Law," a shark attack alert system similar to an Amber Alert. This law enables authorities to quickly broadcast digital alerts to a geofenced area following a shark incident to ensure public safety.
Where do most attacks occur?
While the east coast of Florida has the most attacks in the nation, South Africa is the home to the most fatal attacks in the world.
What are the odds of being killed by a shark?
Only an average of 6 people are fatally injured by sharks each year. The odds are 1 in 3,700,000
Compare that to other odds of a fatal death:
Moto-Vehicle Crash 1 in 93
Drowning 1 in 1,006
Fire or Smoke 1 in 1,287
Hornet, Wasp or Bee Sting 1 in 54,516
Do sharks eat baby sea turtles?
Yes, because of their small size almost any type of shark will eat sea turtle hatchlings. It is made easy for sharks because hatchlings bodies have not completely hardened so they are soft, high in protein, and easily eaten, even by small sharks.
What is the biggest shark species?
The mature Whale Shark averages over 30 feet in length. However the largest one ever measured was just over 60 feet. They are known as gentle giants which swim around with open jaws gathering up plankton.
Sharks do not have bones!
Their cartilaginous skeletons are much lighter than true bone and their large livers are full of low-density oils, both helping them to be buoyant.
What type of shark is the fastest?
The Shortfin Mako Shark is recorded with the fastest average speed, reaching 31 mph with bursts up to 46 mph!
Sharks don't have to visit the dentist!
Their teeth are immune to cavities because they are made with protective fluoride coating.
What are the predators of sharks?
Killer whales, crocodiles, and larger sharks will occasionally eat sharks, but the biggest threat to sharks is humans. Worldwide over 100 million sharks are caught/ killed each year.
What animals are deadlier to humans than sharks?
Actually there are many. Few animals are as terrifying to humans as sharks but hippos (avg. 500 yearly), deer (avg. 120 yearly), bees (avg. 53 yearly) and cows (avg. 22 yearly) are more deadly than sharks.
For more details on this sighting, you can read the original report on
1819 News.
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