Who doesn't enjoy a fun day at the beach? It's a Texas tradition! Whether you're dangling your feet in Galveston Bay, exploring down the coast at Padre Island National Seashore or enjoying the clear blue water of South Padre Island, "beachin' it" is a favorite past time in Texas, and with the Fourth of July holiday weekend looming on the horizon, many Texans have already firmed up their plans to spend a little beach time on the miles and miles of beautiful Texas beaches for the holiday. Those of you that are movie lovers, like yours truly, can appreciate it when I say that a recent viewing of one of my favorite movies (stashed deep in my DVD collection) did make me stop to think about that beach getaway this year. Yep, you guessed it! I was watching "JAWS" on my home theater a couple of weeks back and, like it or not, Peter Benchley's gripping tale of a giant, hungry shark and a beach full of summer vacationers was all I needed to get that uncomfortable feeling in the pit of my stomach about a beach outing I had planned for the Memorial Day weekend. Don't get me wrong. I think sharks have a right to swim free in the waters that gave them birth. But the thought of crossing paths with a shark (there are few white sharks in the Gulf - thank goodness) isn't a thought I enjoy. Tiger sharks, bull sharks, and even black and white tip sharks are no laughing matter in my book, and while shark encounters are rare in Texas, the do happen every year. So naturally I was interested when I recently read about a new study that helps to define why sharks are attracted to swimmers (other than they look like a great snack on a hot day). A new study from the University of Florida shows that the great sea predators are fondest of swimmers in black or white bathing suits and strike most often during periods of the full and new (dark) moon. The peak day for shark attacks is Sunday, with Saturday coming in second. "Sharks are not weekend warriors," George Burgess, director of the International Shark Attack File at the University of Florida, told Agence France-Presse. "Rather it is human leisure that leads to the fewest number of human encounters on Wednesdays and the highest on Sundays." The study's authors analyzed 50 years' worth of shark attack statistics from Volusia County in Florida, an area that has been described as "the shark attack capital of the world." Between 1999 and 2008, over one fifth of all shark attacks worldwide took place in this 47-mile stretch of coast. Young white men are the most likely to find themselves battling a shark, with surfers particularly vulnerable, the study showed. The wave lovers make up 61 percent of total shark victims, according Burgess. "At the time of the attack, most of the surfers were sitting or holding onto the board waiting for a wave, which explains why most surf victims were bitten on the legs," Burgess said. Sharks attacks are also more frequent during a new moon or a full moon, when the moon's influence on tides is at its strongest. Thankfully for the weekend beach bums, the moon reached its fullest on May 27. The dark of the (New) moon, however, happens again on June 12. "Probably, the moon's phases influence the movements and reproductive patterns of fish, the shark's food source, just as they affect human behavior," Burgess reports. Still, in contrast with the bloody encounters of movies like "Jaws," most shark attacks in Volusia County are hit-and-run and do not result in fatalities, Live Science reported. "Calling them attacks is probably a misnomer because the consequences are usually no more severe than a dog bite," Burgess said. "They're not the same kind of bites made by 10- to 20-foot-long white sharks that you have off the coast of California." Visitors to the Texas coast are reminded that while shark attacks are rare in this area, they are possible. Generally shark bites are not life threatening incidents, but being mindful of conditions and activity and obeying the general rules of the water can help to minimize drawing the unwanted attention of these predators. Swimmers, surfers and boaters should avoid flashy jewelry, remain out of the water if you have open wound. Women who are menstruating should also avoid the water. Early morning and late evening are the most likely times for an unwanted shark encounter. Now that you know the dangers, file it away somewhere and don't let it deter you from enjoying the pleasures of the Texas beach. Just don't wear black or white in the water.