Aggressive Shark Closes Ocean off Popular California Beaches

The sighting prompted a closure from Tower 56 to 74, which included part of Newport Beach and Huntington State Beach.

Large sections of Newport Beach and Huntington Beach were closed down to surfers, swimmers and other water-goers. Lifeguards cleared the beaches Thursday evening to check on the shark report.

Two popular Southern California beaches briefly closed after a shark aggressively bumped a surfer’s board.

The closure was ordered Thursday afternoon after a 6-foot-8-inch shark bumped the surfboard of an off-duty lifeguard and lifted him about a foot out of the water, according to the OC Register.

“That, in terms of our protocol, classifies it as aggressive behavior”, Halphide reportedly said. While both locations were officially open late Friday morning, an advisory remained in place, with officials warning people to avoid the water until 3:30 p.m. – 24 hours after the initial sighting. Until an aggressive shark is noticed, he says the seashore ought to reopen no later than four p.m.