Bull sharks have a reputation as one of the most dangerous sharks in the world.
But what if they’ve been blamed for attacks they didn’t commit?
In this video, we take a closer look at shark attacks that were quickly labeled as “bull shark incidents” — and uncover the possibility that other shark species may have been responsible.
And some of them you have probably never heard of.
From mysterious encounters in murky waters to cases where identification was never confirmed, this story challenges what we think we know about shark behavior, risk, and responsibility.
Are bull sharks truly the main threat… or have they been unfairly blamed for many attacks?
Chester Moore
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Think great white sharks don’t swim in the Gulf? Think again. Once considered mythical in Gulf waters, great white sharks are now proven from Florida to Texas—and this groundbreaking new documentary Gulf Great White Sharks: Return of An Icon tells the incredible true story. And you can watch it to get a jump on Shark Week.
🎥 This is the first-ever documentary on great whites in the Gulf, produced and written by me and filmed and edited by Paul Fuzinski—a powerful real-life tale of awe, science, mystery, and a childhood dream realized.
Follow “LeeBeth,” a satellite-tagged apex predator tracked from South Carolina to South Padre Island. Her journey made international headlines—and now it’s igniting a revolution in shark science and marine conservation.
What you’ll see in the film:
Historic sightings off Port Aransas and modern accounts near Galveston and the Chandeleur Islands
Cutting-edge tracking and drone studies
Interviews with top shark scientists like Dr. Greg Skomal and Dr. Megan Winton as well as marine conservationists Pat Murray of CCA and Dr. Guy Harvey
Passion and purpose from journalist Chester Moore, who’s spent 20+ years connecting the clues
Young conservation voices and mentorship programs proving that the future of our oceans starts with inspiration
From Cape Cod to the Gulf, Carcharodon carcharias is reclaiming its place at the top—and we’re here to document its return.
💬 Watch it. Like it. Comment. Share it.Be part of shark conservation history and help us spread awareness of this iconic predator’s Gulf comeback.
👉 See that the Gulf’s true apex predator isn’t the bull shark or the hammerhead. It’s the great white!
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In this gripping episode of Dark Outdoors, we uncover a chilling and ongoing mystery unfolding across Texas and beyond—where horses are being found shot, mutilated, or poisoned in a string of brutal and unexplained attacks.
From Kendall and Waller Counties to Bexar and Smith, horses are being executed in pastures, dumped in brush, or even tied up and shot in the head. Authorities have few leads—and the killers remain free.
We examine whether these killings are tied to the illegal horse meat trade, part of a ritualistic pattern, or the work of thrill killers. And we expand our search beyond Texas—to Nevada—where a serial horse killer is targeting ranch animals near Las Vegas with chilling precision.
With exclusive insight from Higher Calling Wildlife’s investigative reports, this episode dives deep into what may be a multi-state pattern of cruelty, fear, and silence. If you’re a rancher, horse owner, or outdoor enthusiast, you won’t want to miss this investigation into what might be the most underreported animal cruelty crime wave in the U.S.
Follow Us At Gulf Great White Shark Society
In June 2025, I launched the Gulf Great White Shark Society, a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to raising awareness about the presence and importance of great white sharks in the Gulf of Mexico.
Timed with the 50th anniversary of Jaws, the Society’s founding celebration took place at the Museum of the Gulf Coast in Port Arthur, Texas, featuring a documentary premiere, awards, and scholarships honoring young conservationists.
The Society has already garnered recognition, with its website receiving “Best Outdoors Website” honors from the Texas Outdoor Writers Association.
For updates, ocean education, and behind-the-scenes looks at shark conservation efforts, follow the Gulf Great White Shark Society on Instagram: @gulfgreatwhitesharksociety
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Higher Calling Wildlife® an outreach, founded by renowned wildlife journalist & conservationist Chester Moore, is thrilled to announce the launch of its “Summer of the Shark” program.
This exciting initiative aims to educate and inspire the next generation of wildlife conservationists by teaching kids about shark conservation.
The “Summer of the Shark” program is designed to provide young people with a deeper understanding of the vital role sharks play in marine ecosystems. Through engaging activities and mentorship, children will learn about the challenges sharks face and the importance of conservation efforts.
Chester Moore and Ericashea Borel from the Wild Wishes program in the cage at the Texas State Aquarium in 2023.
A highlight of the program will be the distribution of gifts to children on beaches this summer. These gifts, which include educational materials and conservation-themed items, aim to make learning about sharks fun and memorable.
Additionally, the program will extend its reach to shark-loving children facing special challenges, such as terminal illnesses, by sending these gifts to them across the country.
“It is exciting to help support a program that does so much in youth outreach within the context of marine conservation,” said CCA President Pat Murray.
“Chester’s vision and work are more than inspirational. He helps guide kids into natural resources conservation while also elevating the important and intricate issues in domestic and international shark management and conservation.”
The Higher Calling Wildlife® outreach has a long-standing commitment to wildlife education and conservation but especially in helping young people.
“CCA’s commitment to this program is enabling us to do some amazing things this summer. This will we’re taking three kids shark snorkeling at the Texas State Aquarium in their shark cage and kicking off the gift-giving part of the program. CCA is vital in making this happen,” Moore said.
“LeeBeth” photo courtesy Chip Michalove/Atlantic White Shark Conservancy
“The three awesome young people we have going with us are inspiring to me and I’m excited to take them out and give out shark education gifts to kick off our summer-long program.”
Moore said inspiration for the program came when “LeeBeth”, a great white shark fitted with a satellite tag by the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy (AWSC) popped up on the Texas Coast at South Padre Island.
“When I saw the response to that shark showing up and even my own daughter more engaged than normal on sharks and ocean issues through AWSC’s Sharktivity app, I thought it would be a good time to focus our efforts working with kids on sharks this summer. We’ve done three shark expeditions since 2022 with kids in Texas and Florida and thought we would do something special this year, since we had a special visitor to our coast that got so many kids excited.”
For more information about the “Summer of the Shark” program and how to get involved or connect a kid with the program email chester@chestermoore.com. or text 409-920-2062.
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Virtually everyone with an interest in sharks knows the reputation of the bull shark.
Some sources list it as the most dangerous shark on the planet but this wildlife journalist believes that has a lot more to do with abundance around swimmers and fishermen and not all to do with attitude.
While filming a television program in 2002 in the Chandeleur Islands off the coast of Biloxi, Miss. I caught a five footer. This was part of a taping for television host Keith Warren’s fishing program.
I thought it would be best if we first photographed the shark from the shore (for a magazine story I as working on), so I hopped overboard waded to the bank with the fish still battling and brought it in.
The author reeling in the bull shark described in this story in the beautiful Chandeleur Islands in the Gulf of Mexico in 2002.
We filmed the whole thing and then talked a bit about bull sharks and shark conservation.
“Sharks like the bull shark are potentially dangerous to man, but they play a valuable role in nature,” I said.
“Sharks are the apex predator in the Gulf of Mexico, and without them, the entire food chain would be disrupted. I occasionally take sharks to eat, but bulls have super thick hide and I think I will release this one to fight another day.”
At this point, Keith and I walked the big shark back out into the water and he demonstrated the proper technique for reviving a fish by pushing water through its gills. The fish seemed worn out but quickly gained its strength. Keith pushed it out toward the deep, and on camera, we said something about a job well done and started to walk back to shore.
Then something caught my eye: The shark we had released had swam out about 20 yards and then turned around toward us. We were in water over our knees a good 30 yards from the bank. There was no way we were going to outrun the shark, so I prepared to kick it the best I could.
As it got about 10 feet from us, it turned sideways for a second as if it shows its authority, and then turned the other direction. We both breathed a sigh of relief and were glad the camera was still running, because we did not think anyone would believe us. We said something about a close call and wrapped up the shoot.
If you think that was a bit ironic, then check out what happened while tagging sharks near Sabine Pass, TX.
I was out with my friends Bill Killian and Clint Starling. We set up near a rig 10 miles south of the jetties and started catching sharks immediately. A few were blacktips and spinners but most were Atlantic sharpnose, sharks, a species often called “sand shark” that grows to a maximum of around four feet in length.
A huge crew boat that services the oil rigs has the entire Gulf to go around but runs full blast about 50 yards out and throws a massive wave. Our boat near capsized and everything in it went flying including the three-foot Atlantic sharpnose I was in the process of tagging.
When we landed back into position the shark fell on my leg and took hold of my calf. A shark does this thing where it grabs with a bite and then takes a hunk. Luckily before it took, a hunk I knocked it back and looked down to see lots of blood.
Bill and Clint were freaking out but I assured them it would be alright. I asked Bill if he had any alcohol or peroxide and he did not.
I looked down and saw a can of Dr. Pepper so I poured that on the wound, figuring it couldn’t hurt, pulled the bandana off my head and contained the bleeding. Bill was wanting to run it but the fish were still biting. We stayed another couple of hours and caught a whole bunch of sharks.
The shark left me a perfect shark jaw scar and a reminder that sometimes even the creatures you are trying to help are wild and free to prey on us if they so choose.
I never got stitches and to this day (this was 1999) have an obvious scar but that encounter only fueled my interests in sharks that continues to this day.
With “Shark Week” about to kick off, I thought it was timely to send out a post to give you some information you have to dig really deep to find.
I commend Discovery for their amazing shark coverage but you can only do so much on television in a week. The following information ranges from the esoteric to the criminally underreported.
Horse Vs. Shark
Sounds like a Syfy Original doesn’t it?
In reality I am talking statistics and according to the Centers for Disease Control sharks kill about one person in the United States annually. Horses kill around 20.
That won’t grab too many headlines because too many media figures and wealthy, influential people have horses but it is a fact.
Sharks are easy to sensationalize but in reality Mr. Ed’s kind has killed far more people than “Jaws”and its family in the United States.
Sashimi Specialist
Raw salmon with a splash of soy sauce and a bit of wasabi is one of my favorite food items. Raw salmon is also a favorite of a virtually unknown close cousin of the great white shark-the aptly named salmon shark.
Salmon shark fitted with a tag. Photo courtesy National Marine Fisheries Service.
This shark dwells the waters of the northern Pacific and is a fairly common catch on Alaskan fishing vessels.
Ferocious fighters and fast swimmers, the salmon shark is a close cousin to the great white shark. The salmon shark, Lamna ditropis, belongs family Lamnidae with four other species: the great white shark, the shortfin and longfin mako sharks, and the salmon shark’s Atlantic counterpart, the porbeagle (or mackerel) shark.
Salmon sharks (Lamna ditropis) are large, powerful, warm-bodied (endothermic), and streamlined predators adapted for high-speed swimming. Reports from the U.S. Navy have clocked salmon sharks exceeding 50 knots.
This would make the salmon shark one of the fastest fish in the ocean. They are reported to reach 11.9 feet (3.6 m) in total length (Eschmeyer et al. 1983, Compagno 1984). Most of the salmon sharks encountered in Alaskan waters (the northeastern Pacific) are surprisingly uniform: over 93% are females ranging from 6 1/2 to 8 feet (2 – 2.5 m) in length and roughly 300 pounds (136 kg). Salmon sharks in the 700 pound range have been reported by sport fishermen in Alaska.
These sharks are fascinating creatures that rarely come across swimmers or divers and strike fear only into the hearts of sockeye and chinook.
Underrated Biter
The common blacktip shark is never listed in Internet and television lists of the most dangerous sharks.
Yet as we reported in recent weeks if you look at the raw numbers from the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), you will see they should be.
While blacktips were only positively identified in one unprovoked fatality they were responsible for 29 total attacks.
The author with a huge blacktip shark caught and released off the coast of Venice, La.
That puts only the great white, tiger and bull-the three species everyone recognizes as potentially dangerous above them. We wrote about this last year here but have some new insight.
ISAF has a category for requiem and lamniforems-attacks linked to those branches but not to exact species and those are both higher than the blacktip. But when it comes to identified sharks biting people blacktips rank fourth.
Period.
This is not to implicate the blacktip as a creature to be feared. It is however to question some of the shark attacks identified as bull and to lesser extent spinner sharks (which have 16 attacks attribute to them.)
Spinner sharks are nearly identical to blacktips and bull sharks and big blacktips can appear similar especially in murky water.
It’s an interesting thing to consider as millions of beachcombers, wade fishermen and divers hit coastal waters.
That’s it for now. Expect much more to come on sharks over the coming two weeks.
Chester Moore, Jr.
(To contact Chester Moore e-mail chester@chestermoore.com. To subscribe to this blog enter your email address in the box on the top right of this page.)
