A kayaker fishing off the coast of Malibu was hospitalized Sunday morning after being bitten twice by a shark while attempting to release a shortfin mako shark from his kayak. The incident occurred approximately two miles offshore near Paradise Cove around 7:30 a.m., according to NBC Los Angeles and KTLA.
Lifeguards and witnesses described the encounter as involving a struggle after the fisherman hooked the shark. Lifeguard Alex Buford told NBC4 that the shark bit the fisherman during the release attempt, causing him to fall into the water. The shark then knocked him off his kayak and bit his leg a second time before swimming away. The fisherman was transported to a local hospital; his condition has not been disclosed.
Emergency responders and bystanders took immediate action following the attack. A nearby fishing boat pulled the victim from the water and brought him to shore, where he was assisted by his girlfriend, a retired lifeguard, who called for emergency responders. Los Angeles County Fire Department crews responded to the scene, though additional details from the department were not available as of Sunday evening.
The shortfin mako shark involved in the incident is known to inhabit waters off Malibu and is considered dangerous to humans due to its speed, power, and size, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The department notes that mako sharks are one of the fastest and most aggressive shark species in the ocean.
Shark sightings along the California coast have increased in recent months, with unusual encounters reported in the area. Last month, anglers spotted a giant whale shark off Malibu and Santa Barbara Island, a rare event likely linked to warmer waters from El Niño. In August, a hammerhead shark was observed near the Malibu pier, where a fisherman hooked the animal before it released the bait and swam away.
Officials have not confirmed the species of the shark involved in Sunday’s incident, though witnesses and lifeguards described it as a shortfin mako based on its size and behavior. The Los Angeles County Fire Department initially characterized the event as a shark attack but later described it as a fishing accident, according to ABC 7. A manager at Paradise Cove Beach Cafe reported seeing teeth marks on the victim’s lower leg and above the knee after the encounter.