9-year-old recovering from shark bite in St. Augustine

9-year-old Connor Baker is recovering after being bitten by what is believed to be a shark in St. Augustine Beach.

The St. Johns County Fire and Rescue Department says it happened in the area off of the Ocean Trace Ramp while the boy was using a cast net to fish for bait.

According to Lt. Jessica Earl, who was the first responder on the scene, it's the first shark bite she's been called to this year.

The bite left a few marks on Baker's left calf. According to his mother, he had to get nine stitches.

"He took it very well until I tried to clean it but he wasn't too bad, he was a tough little kid," said Earl.

Our area is no stranger to possible shark bites.  In June, Jacksonville Beach lifeguards believe a shark took a bite out of a woman's foot.

Also in June, fishermen on the Jacksonville Beach pier say they witnessed a shark sever the body of a king mackerel fish.

According to Earl, we may not realize it, but these creatures are always around us.

"We usually average about one shark bite a year. We usually spot them, it is the Atlantic Ocean so they're out there," said Earl.

The St. Johns County Fire and Rescue Department says it's not worried about shark danger in the area. Lifeguards will be on duty on Labor Day and after that they'll go back to patrols until Sept. 15.