Shark spotted near mouth of the Merrimack

A shark, estimated around 24-feet,  was seen by a man who was on his boat fishing in the Merrimack River Friday.

The man was cleaning a striped bass when he saw a fin in the water.

Newburyport Harbormaster Paul Hogg tells WBZ NewsRadio 1030 the shark apparently smelled the fish's blood.

Hogg says it's unusual to see a shark up here but thinks the warmer ocean temperatures have helped draw the sharks to the Bay State coast.

Authorities warned boaters and beach-goers along Salisbury Beach to be on the lookout.

Attempts by authorities to confirm the sighting were unsuccessful.

There have been three confirmed sightings of sharks off the coast of Massachusetts so far this year, one each off Gloucester, Scituate, and Chatham.

In:
• Shark