A great white shark estimated to be 10 to 12 feet long was spotted near Huntington Beach on Tuesday, October 13, prompting officials to temporarily close a popular stretch of coastline. The Huntington Beach Fire Department received a report from a foilboard surfer who saw the shark circling about 300 feet offshore near Lifeguard Tower 16. Officials classified the reported behavior as aggressive and closed the waters between Seapoint Street and Huntington Beach Pier. The surfer was not injured. Although officials searched by drone, jet ski and rescue boat, they could not independently confirm the sighting. Marine safety officials said the roughly two-mile closure was expected to remain in effect until Wednesday afternoon, with additional patrols planned before reopening. Experts say shark sightings have increased in Southern California, potentially because warmer ocean temperatures are shifting shark movements northward. Despite the sightings, shark encounters resulting in bites remain rare.
