8-Foot Great White Circles Surfer in Newport Beach as Lifeguards Clear the Lineup

A surfer had a close call with a suspected great white shark in Southern California on Thursday, as lifeguards took precautionary action and closed surrounding beaches.

The incident happened at 35th street in Newport Beach around 1:15pm. No injuries were reported. And the shark was estimated to be about eight-feet-long, making it a juvenile great white. As a result, lifeguards closed waters one mile in each direction.

See the official statement from the Newport Beach Fire Department below.

The statement reads:

"Shark Sighting – West Newport Beach

"Today at 1:15 PM, Newport Beach Fire Department Lifeguards confirmed the sighting of an approximately 8-foot great white shark circling a surfer off 35th Street in West Newport.

"The following precautions are in effect:

"- Water cleared one mile east and west of the last known location; minimum 4-hour closure with active monitoring by tower and patrol lifeguards

"-NBPD notified; HB-1 helicopter fly-over requested

"-OCSD notified; surveillance vessel requested and NBLG Sea Watch rescue vessel deployed

"- Neighboring lifeguard agencies notified

"-Beach closure and shark-sighted signs posted"

Southern California is a typical hotspot for juvenile great white sharks. It serves as a nursery for them, typically in the summer and fall months, since they enjoy the warmer water and abundance of prey – including small fish and stingrays. However, it has been an abnormally warm winter, with a marine heat wave off the west coast and a predicted El Niño season on the way this summer.

Regarding the incident, the Newport Beach Fire Department added:

“Shark sightings are rare along our coastline. When observed, these animals are typically transiting through the area. Out of an abundance of caution, we ask that the public avoid the water in this vicinity until the all-clear is issued.”