I was swimming in the Gulf of Mexico in the St. Pete Beach area (in shallow water). What kind of fish bit me?

Question

The fish left a small hickey-like wound on my leg. The fish bumped into me first before biting me as sharks do. Apparently I passed the taste test because it then bit me once and proceeded to chase me as I fled bumping into me once more before I got to shore. The fish was no more than 30 inches long and the bite radius was about that of a nickel. My uncle saw the bite and said it was probably a Dogfish shark, but I didn't think those were found in the gulf. Dogfish sharks are known to hunt in packs, but I only saw one fish chasing me. Of course my focus was on getting out of the water rather than identifying what bit me. I was in a bit past waist deep water and my mom and I had been splashing around. The bite itself did not hurt much but it did cause minimal bleeding. Any ideas of the identity of my tiny yet efficient attacker?

Visibility was very poor.

Answer 1

Could it have been a Remora (Suckerfish)?

http://www.bertaut.com/remora.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remora

Answer 2

Frankly I do not understand the other answers. In the St Pete Beach area you will find Fort de Soto and not very far Caladesu island - Both are considered among the very bes beaches in the USA. Water now is about 72-74 and is pretty cool for most.

Answer 3

Dogfish have very small teeth designed for eating mollusks and such. They are not likely to bite a human, or to break the skin if they do. Also they are not likely to be found in shallow water during daylight hours, though they do come inshore to feed at night.

It could be almost anything. Fish aren't too bright. I have even had fresh water sunfish come over and nip me. What they thought they were doing I have no idea ... did I say "thought"??

Answer 4

Not easy to know... estrange...

►Maybe a barracuda? >>"There have been isolated cases where barracudas did bite a human, but these incidents are rare and are believed to be caused by bad visibility. Barracudas will stop after the first bite as humans are not their normal food source" [wiki]. How was the visibility when you was splashing?

►Maybe a Blacktip? " In rare circumstances involving poor visibility, blacktips may bite a human, mistaking it for prey. Under normal conditions they are harmless and shy." [wiki]

Answer 5

SEAKING FCK YEAH!!!