There were two more recent shark sightings near Sloat Blvd. area of Ocean Beach. One report is highly indicative of a shark attack on a pinniped. The other report is less certain of an actual shark and may have been confusion with dolphins, which have been common sightings at OB in the last few weeks. However, there has been verified shark activity at Ocean Beach over the last month.

The following reports are courtesy of the Shark Research Committee:

REPORT #1
On September 14, 2008, Sean Gibson was surfing near Sloat Blvd. at Ocean Beach, San Francisco. It was 9:30 AM and he had been on the water about 45 minutes. The sky was overcast with air and water temperatures estimated at 60 and 58 degrees Fahrenheit respectively. The ocean was calm with 2–3 foot swells over a sandy bottom 10 feet deep with water visibility 6–8 feet. Gibson recalled:

“I was sitting on my surfboard. I observed a 12–14 inch high triangular gray fin, at first sitting still in the water about 50 feet from me. It was outside the surf lineup, beyond the breakers, about 100 yards off the beach. I lost sight of it for a few seconds, then saw it again swimming in a tight circle about the same distance from me. I did not see the shark's body. I thought I saw the tail fin cut the surface about 4–5 feet behind the dorsal fin, but I was focused on the dorsal fin so I'm not sure. The shark did not approach. I paddled about 15 feet to the south. There were dozens of other surfers in the water and no one reacted. I spoke out loud that I saw a shark, but nobody reacted so I let it be. I stayed in the water. After about 20 minutes, about 300 yards offshore I saw what appeared to be a large sea lion being thrown/jumping about five times. Then birds started circling and diving. I’m not sure if that was an attack or a seal feeding.”

The behavior of the birds is indicative of a predatory attack on a pinniped by a White Shark. Caution should be exercised when utilizing this location for your ocean water activities. Please report any shark sighting, encounter, or attack to the Shark Research Committee.

REPORT #2
On September 15, 2008, Morgan Weber was surfing just north of Sloat Blvd. at Ocean Beach, San Francisco. It was about 6:40 PM and he had been on the water 30–45 minutes. It was nearly sunset and foggy with no wind and a rising moon. The sea surface had a slight wind chop with 3–4 foot swells. The ocean floor is primarily sand at this location and was 6–16 feet deep with 10–15 feet of water visibility. Dolphins were observed prior to his entering the water. Weber recalled:

“I was surfing, waiting for waves, and saw the shark fin about 100–150 yards away for about three seconds, move about 10–15 feet through the water. The dorsal fin was 12–18 inches high. I saw it and began swimming towards the shore and yelling at my friend, ‘Shark, get out of the water!’ When I looked back to try and spot where the shark was to keep an eye on it while I paddled in, I couldn't see it through the swells/waves. We got out of the water and watched for another 5–10 minutes to see if it came back or attacked any of the other surfers who wouldn't get out of the water.”

Caution should be exercised when utilizing this location for your ocean water activities. Please report any shark sighting, encounter, or attack to the Shark Research Committee.

Other shark sightings

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