MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — Martin County commissioners faced a wave of public pushback during Tuesday morning’s meeting as residents, local surfers, and marine experts urged local leaders to keep strict limits on beachside shark fishing.
The debate centers on potential language changes to local ordinances regarding land-based shark fishing, a practice where anglers deploy lines from the shore using heavy gear, kayaks, or drones to drop bait and chum into deeper waters.
Under current Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) rules, shore anglers are required to hold a specialized permit, keep sharks in the water, and use non-offset circle hooks to prevent injury to the animals. However, local ordinances in coastal counties can set stricter safety boundaries near public swimming areas.
During public comments, speakers warned that chumming, releasing fish parts and blood into the surf to attract sharks, endangers swimmers, surfers, and families.
“I myself have been caught in shark fishing lines, and it is not fun,” said local surfer Jay Noyes, speaking in support of beachgoers and surfers.
Dottie Lanci, a member of the Hutchinson Island Preservation Initiative, strongly opposed any effort to loosen existing restrictions that ban shark baiting on lifeguard-protected beaches. Lansing called on commissioners to prioritize safety and extend the ban across all county beaches, citing an incident she witnessed outside her home where anglers used drones to drop chum in the water.
January 23, 2026 — Anglers on Pensacola Beach, guided by shark fishermen Dylan Wier and Blaine Kenny of Coastal Worldwide, reeled in and safely released a rare 12‑ to 13‑foot, 1,000‑pound great white shark during a 48‑hour trip, an extraordinary catch highlighting both the surprise of the crew and the apparent health of Gulf waters where great whites have increasingly been spotted. (CNN Newsource)
“The next morning a family of four put up their umbrellas. Two young children were playing in the water there, completely unaware of what took place the day before and that some hungry sharks might still be there,” Lanci said. She also noted that other Florida municipalities, such as Miami Beach, passed local bans on land-based shark fishing earlier this year.
Safety concerns over shark activity on local beaches are far from theoretical for many residents. In August 2017, a 3-year-old girl named Violet Veatch was bitten on the leg by a suspected bull shark while wading in shallow water at Bathtub Reef Beach in Martin County. The toddler’s mother, Jessica Veatch, later pushed for stricter local beach safety regulations, believing the shark was drawn to the crowded swimming area by spearfishermen carrying bloody fish through the water.
Dr. Justin Grubich, a marine conservation expert and local surfer who moved to the area from Fort Lauderdale, urged the commission to maintain strong local restrictions. Pointing to recent research presented at statewide conservation forums, Grubich warned that regular baiting near popular beaches conditions wildlife.
“There’s new scientific evidence or more accumulated scientific evidence that you can create problem sharks like problem bears,” Grubich cautioned commissioners, advocating for rules that limit chumming and keep blood out of coastal waters.
Commissioners did not take immediate action on the ordinance during the meeting, but requested further review of local public safety boundaries alongside state FWC regulations.