So Apparently Southern California Is Now Teeming With Sharks

Out of sight, out of mind. That’s always been the motto for Southern California residents when it comes to dealing with predatory marine creatures. As, while there’s always been the occasional sighting, attack numbers were minimal to the point they were rendered void.

However, there’s been a bit more movement in the normally dormant water as of late. As you probably remember, a 36-year-old woman was bitten on the leg over the weekend off San Onofre. An unfortunate, albeit rare, occurrence most thought little of past the headline. As the Lowers lineup was packed (as it always is) the next day.

But it looks like problematic aquatic activity is only festering, as nine 9-to-10 foot sharks were spotted around Poche Beach, in Dana Point alongside an 11-footer that swam under the San Clemente Pier. This accompanies reports of two surfers being chased out of the water at Upper Trestles and an aggressive shark patrolling the waters around Lowers. All happening just a few days after the woman was attacked. 

Matt’s ominous picture taken from a couple days ago.

Local photographer Matt Larmand snapped the above picture and put in on his Instagram. According to the caption, it shows four eight-to-10 foot long sharks cruising off Capistrano Beach, a spot wedged south of Dana Point and north of the San Clemente pier. The image was shared by Eric Geiselman, who said, “There has been sharks everywhere lately around town.”

You thought the Salt Creek locals were rough.

Lifeguards have responded by closing San Clemente city beaches, calling anyone out of the water who tries to enter.

“There have been reports of aggressive sharks,” San Clemente lifeguard Bill Humphreys told The Orange County Register. “The seriousness has escalated. And we do have the manpower to enforce. It’s a real slippery slope if you allow people to go in the water when it’s closed. When you allow two people, it turns to 20 and 40. We have kids, we have families, we have a variety of people to look out for.”

He finished by saying surfers and swimmers are subject to citation if they enter the water, and that the amount of shark activity this week is, “Nothing we’ve seen before.”