A Surf City resident captured the small shark as severe coastal flooding turned neighborhood streets into extensions of nearby bay waters.
SURF CITY, N.J. — A small shark was filmed swimming through a flooded residential street in this Jersey Shore community as a powerful nor’easter pushed seawater into neighborhoods and caused widespread flooding along the Northeast coast.
Surf City resident Drew Procaccino recorded the animal around noon Sept. 26 as floodwater covered the street outside his home. The video shows the shark’s dorsal fin and tail breaking the surface as it moves through the neighborhood. Procaccino told Storyful that the shark briefly disappeared near a driveway before it was later seen heading west toward Barnegat Bay.
The animal was identified as a smooth dogfish by shark researcher Greg Skomal of the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, according to reports citing his review of the footage. Another marine expert, Thomas Grothues, director of the Rutgers University Marine Field Station, also identified the animal as a small smooth dogfish. The species is found in coastal waters and estuaries around New Jersey.
The unusual sighting came as Surf City experienced significant coastal flooding during the slow-moving storm. The borough sits on Long Beach Island, a narrow barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Barnegat Bay. Associated Press reporting from Surf City showed seawater covering streets and reaching some homes as the nor’easter battered the coast.
New Jersey officials had declared a state of emergency in eight counties ahead of the storm. The nor’easter brought heavy rain, powerful winds and dangerous coastal flooding across parts of the Northeast, while downed trees and electrical lines contributed to widespread power outages. More than 100,000 customers across the region were without electricity at the height of the storm, according to reports.
The shark sighting was captured during flooding driven by the coastal storm, but available reporting did not indicate that the animal posed a threat to residents. Smooth dogfish are relatively small sharks commonly found along the Jersey Shore. Unlike larger predatory sharks, they have flattened teeth suited to feeding on animals such as crustaceans, squid and smaller fish.
Procaccino’s footage provided a striking example of how far coastal water had moved into the Surf City neighborhood. After passing the home, the shark was later seen moving in the direction of Barnegat Bay, according to his account. There were no reports of injuries or attacks connected to the animal.
The flooding was part of a much broader storm event. Roads were inundated in several New Jersey coastal communities, while strong winds brought down trees and disrupted power. The storm also affected transportation throughout the Northeast, with hundreds of flights canceled and ferry operations disrupted as officials warned of additional flooding around high tides.
The nor’easter weakened after battering the region through the weekend, but officials continued monitoring coastal conditions and damage. In Surf City, the small shark became one of the storm’s most unusual sights as floodwaters temporarily transformed an ordinary residential street into a path for marine life.
Author note: Last updated September 29, 2026.