Wave-Jumping Shark Caught In Photos At New Smyrna Beach

If you need more proof that New Smyrna Beach is the shark bite capital of the world, a local photographer has it, three amazing photos with eyewitnesses to back it. Just as thousands of surfers and swimmers are heading to the beach this weekend, there's more evidence they aren't the only ones in the water.

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It happened in the blink of an eye, but some people told Eyewitness News they still don't believe the tale of a wave-jumping shark in New Smyrna Beach even though it was caught on camera.

"He said, 'I hope I got it,'" said eyewitness Skipper Eppelin.

It was three frames, one half-second of photography and a once-in-a-lifetime shot.

"I looked at the camera and go, 'You've got to be kidding me,'" said photographer Kem McNair.

Strange News Photos (LEFT) STRANGE PHOTOSView 99 PHOTOS of Strange News The local photographer and artist was aiming his camera at the waves a week ago, like he does almost daily, when something jumped, literally, right into the frame.

"I saw something in the background. I go, 'What was that?' I look at the display and back it up just a tad and there's this spinner shark," McNair said.

Right next to two unaware surfers, the spinner shark leapt from the waves, twisted and disappeared. It's the same spot where sharks have bitten 12 people this year and evidence, beach patrol said, of what's in the water even if you usually don't see it.

McNair admits he can understand why some people think the pictures are fakes. After all, he's shot at the beach for 40 years and has never captured anything like it, but there were eyewitnesses with him who can back him up.

"He took the shot and I was witness to it," Eppelin said.

Eppelin was standing next to McNair in the water and other surfers told Eyewitness News they've seen similar shark behavior in the water.

"No doubt in my mind, there's nothing uncommon about that in this inlet" said local surfer Mike Van Doren.

It's just uncommon for someone to catch it on camera.

Previous Stories: May 7, 2008: Shark Bites 6-Year-Old's Leg Along New Smyrna Beach Coast May 5, 2008: Volusia County Dredging Could Be Impacting Shark Attack Numbers April 20, 2008: Teenager Bitten By Shark While Surfing April 4, 2008: Fourth Shark Bite Of The Year Recorded After Surfer Bitten At Ponce Inlet February 19, 2008: Surfer Describes Shark Attack Along New Smyrna Beach February 18, 2008: First Victim Of The Year For Shark Bite Capital Of The World January 18, 2008: Brevard County Surfer Attacked By Shark, Finds Teeth In Foot