DNR: Maryland manages 41 species of coastal sharks, including spiny dogfish.
This page lists 25 sharks, rays and other marine animals.
Official accounts call 1 of them mildly venomous. DNR gives a total of 41; the 25 here are the sharks, rays and other marine animals official sources name one by one.
Which sharks, rays and other marine animals can hurt you
Official sources single out these sharks, rays and other marine animals in Maryland, in their own words:
Spiny Dogfish Shark
Mildly venomous dorsal spines. “Watch out for those two dorsal spines, they are mildly venomous.” DNR
Jellyfish (Chesapeake Bay and mid-Atlantic)
Venom in stingers. “Stings from jellyfish found off the shores of Maryland typically produce mild symptoms.” Maryland Poison Center
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
No confirmed photo of Sea nettle
Sea nettle
Chrysaora chesapeakei
Not stated
Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
What the sources say
Habitat: Most abundant in the tributaries of the middle Bay, where salinity levels range from 10 to 20 parts per thousand (ppt) (NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science)
No confirmed photo of Shortfin mako shark
Shortfin mako shark
Not stated
Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
No confirmed photo of Smooth hammerhead shark
Smooth hammerhead shark
Sphyrna zygaena
Not stated
Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
No confirmed photo of Smoothhound
Smoothhound
Mustelus canis
Not stated
Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
No confirmed photo of Spinner shark
Spinner shark
Carcharhinus brevipinna
Not stated
Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Also has a large second dorsal fin, but its first dorsal fin sits over the pelvic fins and it has barbels at the nostrils.
Photos show typical adults; individuals vary. Never get close to compare.
When sharks, rays and other marine animals are active in Maryland
Records of sharks, rays and other marine animals in Maryland peak in July to August. They show when people record sharks, rays and other marine animals, not how many there are (about month bars).
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
267 records of sharks, rays and other marine animals in Maryland by month (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records).
If you are bitten or stung
Call 911 or Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 right away. Poison Help connects you to your local poison center, any time of day.
What official sources say
Are there sharks in Maryland?
Yes. DNR manages 41 species of coastal sharks; some, like the bull shark, also occur in the main stem and some rivers of the Chesapeake Bay. DNR
“Some sharks are found strictly in coastal waters, and others, like the bull shark, are also found in the main stem and some rivers of the Chesapeake Bay.”
Shark Facts. Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). archived copy, captured October 5, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.Archived copy. Quoted passages (2)
“Maryland manages 41 species of coastal sharks, including spiny dogfish.”
“Some sharks are found strictly in coastal waters, and others, like the bull shark, are also found in the main stem and some rivers of the Chesapeake Bay.”
Fish Facts: Spiny Dogfish Shark. Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR). archived copy, captured June 12, 2026; checked November 3, 2026.Archived copy. Quoted passages (1)
“Watch out for those two dorsal spines, they are mildly venomous.”
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