5 Most Shark Infested Beaches In Texas

With a worldwide total of 47 recorded shark bites in 2024, it’s a safe assumption that any beach with an incident of a shark bite could be considered a shark-infested beach, given the low number of incidents. The United States leads the pack when it comes to unprovoked shark bites, which means a bite that isn’t instigated by someone intentionally interfering with the marine predator. By the end of the 2024 year, the U.S. recorded 28 bites in total, including one fatality in Hawaii.

As in other years, Florida is the leading shark hotspot (14 bites), followed by Texas and Hawaii, each with four recorded bites. Other states, including California, South Carolina, and North Carolina, saw significantly fewer incidents. While the idea of "shark-infested" beaches in Texas might evoke fear, the reality is far less dramatic. Shark encounters along the 350-mile-long Texas coastline are rare despite the Gulf of Mexico being home to a diverse population of these fascinating ocean dwellers.

South Padre Island

Part of Padre Island, South Padre Island is located on the southern tip of Texas, along the Gulf of Mexico, only 20 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border. It is renowned for its miles of pristine beaches and warm waters, which draw beachgoers and nature lovers year-round. Activities on the water include kiteboarding, stand-up paddle boarding, and deep-sea fishing excursions. On land, visitors can enjoy South Padre Island’s wildlife at the South Padre Island Birding, Nature Center & Alligator Sanctuary, where a beloved alligator named Big Padre lives.

On July 4th, 2024, a single shark injured four people in the waters off South Padre Island. A woman who was standing on a sandbar in murky water didn’t see the shark attack but sustained serious injuries to her calf; her husband was also bitten on the leg. A third person sustained injuries when they tried to assist the couple, and a fourth person was hurt when the same shark pushed into her as she balanced on a boogie board in knee-deep water. Onlookers couldn’t identify the type of shark but estimated it was 5 to 6 feet long. Known for its warm waters, the waters off the Texas coast attract various shark species, including Atlantic blacktip, Atlantic sharpnose, tiger, and hammerhead sharks.

Mustang Island

Mustang Island lies along the Gulf Coast of Texas, sandwiched between Corpus Christi and Port Aransas, giving visitors and residents access to attractions in Corpus Christi like the Texas State Aquarium and the USS Lexington Museum, the last remaining World War II aircraft carrier-turned naval aviation museum. The Mustang Island State Park is the perfect weekend getaway from the city, where city dwellers can explore 5 miles of Texas coastline, birdwatch, camp overnight, or paddle along 20 miles that make up the Mustang Island State Park Paddling Trail.

Often referred to as the most shark-infested beach in Texas, Mustang Island also ranks as one of the most beautiful islands in Texas. Its beaches have recorded nine non-fatal shark attacks since 1987, a year which saw three attacks. In 2000, a lemon shark bit a child on the foot. The most recent recorded attack on the island took place in 2011 when a teenager was bitten on the foot while fishing.

Matagorda Beach

Matagorda Beach is a picturesque destination on the Texas Gulf Coast near Matagorda, where the Colorado River meets the Gulf of Mexico. Perfect for sun-seekers and nature enthusiasts who want to kick back and enjoy a laid-back coastal experience far from the crowds of more popular beaches. The nearby Matagorda Bay Nature Park offers bird-watching, kayaking, and wildlife viewing, while Matagorda Beach is perfect for beach combing, swimming, and surf fishing. In May of 2023, a man caught a small to medium-sized shark from the beach, and as he was measuring the shark, the shark moved its head and bit him on the hand. The man was airlifted to a hospital in Houston for treatment, but the bite was not life-threatening.

Surfside Beach

With a name like Surfside Beach, visitors looking for small-town charm, surf shops, fresh seafood restaurants, and plenty of opportunities to kayak paddleboard, and surf will find it in this small coastal village on Follett’s Island, a barrier island along the Gulf of Mexico. Surfside Jetty Park is a 15-acre day-use beach park where visitors can access the beach, harbor, channel, and jetty for fishing. While most sharks avoid humans, they are attracted to areas of activity like fishing, where discarded bait, fish scraps, and hooked fish on lines can lure sharks closer to shore.

While swimming in groups, avoiding swimming during dawn or dusk, and staying away from fishing areas can reduce the chances of encounters, one Surfside Beach swimmer was not so lucky. In 2013, a 15-year-old boy was bitten by a shark while swimming. More recently, in 2022, two anglers reeled in a 6-foot-long lemon shark only 100 yards from the shore.

Galveston Island

With over 8 million visitors a year, Galveston Island is a popular tourist destination drawn by the island’s 32 miles of beaches, historic landmarks, and family attractions like Moody Gardens, Schlitterbahn Galveston Waterpark, and dolphin excursions. The island is also a quick coastal getaway for Houston residents only 55 miles away. Shark sightings of species like blacktip and bull sharks are common, and occasional interactions are reported about once every two to three years, particularly near fishing piers and areas where bodies of water flow into the Gulf of Mexico.

In June 2024, a shark latched onto a teenager’s hand as she was standing in waist-deep water off Jamaica Beach. After being treated onsite, she was transported to the hospital, where she required surgery on her hand. Records on the island show that in the last 100 years, there have been only 17 shark bites.

According to the University of Florida’s International Shark Attack File (ISAF), the chance of being bitten by a shark is incredibly low, 1 in 3.7 million—significantly lower than the risks posed by natural disasters or encounters with other animals. So, instead of letting fear discourage travel, visitors to any of Texas's five most shark-infested beaches should enjoy the Lone Star State’s beautiful beaches, vibrant marine life, and unforgettable coastal experience, where sharks are just another interesting part of the natural environment from South Padre Island to Galveston.