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Sharks spotted off Massachusetts coast

The second largest shark species in the world is being spotted close to the Bay State coast, according to shark researchers.

Multiple basking sharks were seen off Plymouth on the morning of May 9. Shark researcher John Chisholm was alerted to the site, and he counted at least five basking sharks close to the beach.

"If you see a shark, remember to be a citizen scientist and report it!" Chisholm posted.

Basking sharks are up to 30 feet long, and they filter feed on plankton.

The slow-moving sharks—which are often mistaken for great white sharks—have been spotted on some recent whale watches across the region.

"Just under the surface of the water, it's 10 feet away from us, coming up now," the guide on a Dolphin Fleet Whale Watch said on a trip this week. "This is incredible! This is an enormous shark, folks. Holy cow! Look at this!

"Oh my goodness!" the guide told excited watchers on board. "Folks, I don't think I've ever seen a basking shark quite so beautifully clearly. Look at this behemoth!"

They spotted three basking sharks during the whale watch.

"One swam gracefully alongside us, passing right under the bow with its massive mouth wide open, filtering plankton from the water. A breathtaking sight!" the Dolphin Fleet Whale Watch posted.

"But the excitement didn't stop there," the whale watch added. "Atlantic white-sided dolphins, gray seals, a harp seal, and minke whales all made appearances. And to top it off, we had our first sighting this season of the well-known humpback whale, Scylla-a New England favorite!"

Chisholm every spring receives many shark reports that turned out to be basking sharks, instead of great white sharks.

They're often mistaken for white sharks given their similar proportions.

White sharks have a pointed dorsal fin, while basking sharks have a rounded fin. Also, white sharks have two-tone coloration, and basking sharks have uniform coloration.

Another main difference is that white sharks have large gill slits, while basking sharks have extra large gill slits.

Chisholm continues to remind people who see a white shark to report it on the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy's Sharktivity app.