Overview
- The angler hooked a shark from his kayak and was bitten twice while trying to release it, with nearby fishermen, his girlfriend who is a retired lifeguard, and county lifeguards helping get him to shore.
- The victim was taken to a local hospital and his current condition has not been publicly disclosed.
- Authorities initially described the episode as a shark attack but later labeled it a fishing accident and said a full incident report and species identification are still pending.
- A Los Angeles County lifeguard suggested the animal may have been a shortfin mako, but video of the rescue does not clearly show the shark and officials have not confirmed the species.
- Beaches in the area remained open after the encounter and officials noted recent unusual shark sightings along the Southern California coast that researchers link to warmer coastal waters.