Great White Shark Bumps Surfer off Huntington Beach, California

On the morning of July 10, 2015, a 38-year-old former professional surfer was paddling his board approximately 30 yards offshore near Lifeguard Tower 17 at Huntington Beach, California, when he noticed the water around him beginning to churn. Moments later, he felt a sharp bump beneath his board. The surfer observed a dark-colored shark swimming southward after the contact and examined his board to find visible marks from the encounter. The shark was identified as a great white shark approximately seven feet in length. According to marine safety officials, the surfer was not physically injured, though the shark left distinct markings on his surfboard. The bump-and-contact behavior was classified as an unprovoked incident meeting the criteria for aggressive shark behavior under beach safety protocols. Chris Lowe, a shark expert at California State University, Long Beach, suggested the shark may have been investigating the surfer out of curiosity before becoming startled and reacting defensively by bumping the board. This theory was consistent with recent activity in the area, where juvenile white sharks had been frequenting local waters, particularly around Surfside and Sunset Beach, where they reportedly feed on stingrays. In response to the incident, Huntington Beach authorities implemented immediate precautionary measures, closing the ocean from Beach Boulevard to the Huntington Beach Pier. State officials also closed waters at Huntington State Beach extending to Magnolia Avenue. The closures reflected standard beach safety protocols following confirmed shark contact incidents.