Incident Report
Surfer Bitten on Hand at Salmon Creek Beach, Sonoma County
A male surfer was bitten on the hand by a shark while paddling approximately 300 yards offshore at North Salmon Creek Beach in Sonoma County, California, on December 12, 2025. He exited the water independently and drove himself to a hospital with a non-life-threatening injury.
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Incident Profile
Circumstances
Environmental
Individual
Location
Description
On Friday, December 12, 2025, at approximately 8 a.m., a surfer was bitten on the hand by a shark while paddling in the Pacific Ocean near North Salmon Creek Beach in Sonoma County, California. The incident occurred roughly 300 yards from shore during large surf conditions, with waves reported between 8 and 12 feet. The surfer was able to exit the water under his own power and made his way to shore, where he was located by the Sonoma County Sheriff's Marine Unit. Emergency medical personnel evaluated the hand wound on the beach and determined the injury to be non-life-threatening. The surfer declined ambulance transport and subsequently drove himself to a hospital for further treatment. Photographic evidence provided by the Sheriff's Office documented puncture marks on the surfer's surfboard consistent with the bite. The specific species of shark involved in the incident was not identified by authorities. This incident represents an unprovoked shark encounter, classified as such because the surfer was engaged in normal water recreation activity when the interaction occurred. Large surf conditions and early morning hours are environmental factors often associated with shark activity in California coastal waters.