A video captured a shark swimming uncomfortably close to surfers at a well-frequented beach in Los Angeles, its fin emerging from the shallow waters just feet away from the sand.
The unsettling footage was shared on Friday by social media influencer Josh Hublitz, who filmed the shark at El Porto Beach in Manhattan Beach. “I’ve never spotted a shark in El Porto before. This is a first for me,” Hublitz remarked on Instagram.
He described the situation as being in “ankle-deep water,” which he considered “super sketch.”
The video highlights the shark’s dorsal fin as it moves through the water near the shoreline.
One viewer on Instagram speculated that it might be a harmless “baby thresher,” a species known to hunt baitfish close to shore. However, the exact species of the shark has not been confirmed.
This sighting takes place amidst several others reported along the coastal areas of Southern California in recent months.
Recently, the Huntington Beach Fire Department had to close a two-mile stretch of beach after reports came in of an aggressive 10- to 12-foot great white shark observed near Lifeguard Tower 16.
Additionally, in late June, a 9-foot great white was seen off La Jolla, prompting officials to issue warning signs, despite no aggressive behavior being reported.
The increase in shark sightings coincides with unusually warm ocean temperatures attributed to a strong El Niño pattern. Scientists note that these warmer waters may be driving some shark species northward, bringing them closer to favorite California beaches.
Interestingly, two endangered olive ridley sea turtles were also found nesting on beaches in Orange County, near Seal Beach and Huntington Beach Pier, marking the first documented nests of this species on the West Coast.
Other unusual marine visitors have included a rare hammerhead shark spotted off Malibu and venomous sea snakes along the Southern California coastline.
