The following report was provided by the Shark Research Committee: On September 2, 2009, Derek Bobbe was surfing at the north end of Pacifica State Beach, also known as Linda Mar Beach. It was 6:40 PM and he had been in the water 40 minutes. The sun was setting and the sky was partly cloudy with an estimated air temperature of 71°F. There was a light surface chop with small, disorganized 2–3 foot waves. Water depth was 5–7 feet with visibility of 4–5 feet and an estimated temperature of 55°F. A single pinniped was observed in the area 5–10 minutes prior to the encounter.
Bobbe recounted:
“I was surfing some small waves at North Linda Mar. There were four other surfers in my immediate area. The conditions were deteriorating as the tide was increasing. Shortly after a small set of waves arrived, one of the other surfers yelled, “Shark!” I figured he was probably joking or had seen a dolphin. However, 2–3 minutes later I was paddling to get past an outside wave of another set. At that point, I observed a shark briefly passing through a wave approximately 25 feet outside of me and diagonally towards the south. Another surfer was positioned near the peak of the wave and was only 3–10 feet from where the shark surfaced. The shark was moving parallel with the wave and had a prominent dorsal fin that was quite tall (approximately 2–2.5 feet). Due to the angle of the shark’s course, I could only see the front of its body, which was quite wide, and its dorsal fin. I think it was at least 6–8 feet long and perhaps longer. I observed the shark for 2–3 seconds and then lost sight of the shark as the wave crashed. After the wave crashed, I immediately turned around and paddled quickly, yet deliberately, towards the beach and did not panic. Two other surfers who introduced themselves as Luke and David (Luke was the one who had yelled “Shark!”) had already returned to the beach and described their encounter excitedly. Luke noted that the shark had passed closely to him and seemed to be following him before he yelled out. I later spoke with the third surfer (who had been close to the shark when I witnessed it) in the parking lot near Crespi and Highway 1. He had noticed the large dorsal fin surface near him. He also believed he had seen a large White Shark and that it moved in a deliberate, straight motion unlike a dolphin. He further noted that the shark was less than 10 feet from him when it surfaced. He too exited the water shortly after I did.”
Please report any shark sighting, encounter, or attack to the Shark Research Committee.
Photo credit: Oskay
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I was surfing with a pack of 4 people trying to wedge into a solo peak on a crowded evening at Linda Mar. I caught a few waves and had been out about 30 minutes and was watching the sunset waiting for a set. I was positioned about 75 yards south of the large rock on the north end. As I watched for a set wave a fin at least a foot tall came out of the water and traveled from left to right about 5 to 10 yards in front of me. It came out in slow steady fashion traveled about 3 yards and then went under slowly. The fin did not appear to move like a dolpin fin which is usually up and down in a curved motion. It appeared to be moving in a straight line and in trim. I live on a cliff by the ocean and surf OB, Montara, and Pacific Grove which are all supposedly sharky. I never get out of the water, but yesterday I did and I am glad I made that decision. Another weird thing is right after I saw the fin a wave appeared out of nowhere and I was able to take it all the way in. KARMA “Be positive in the water and don’t be punk – there are a lot of biginners in the water and we should all cut them slack” I did not claim shark because I did not want to create a panic and I was in shock when I saw the large fin that I didn’t get a 100% ID on the triangular shape of the fin. Regardless, I will be back in the water in no time. Aloha and get some waves!!!!
I surfed that exact spot earlier in the day 1-3 p.m. and there was a ton food chain activity. Three seals rolled around the area the whole time and took some waves too. Several dolphin were around as well. This is not to cast doubt on a multiple sighting per se, but it was like Grant Central at rush hour and I was very vigilent.
Yeah, there has been tons of wild life this year. I haven’t surfed Linda Mar this year yet, but OB has been steaming with life as well.
Local fisherman speak “affectionately” of “Herman the Merman,” a great white who trolls the headland bet. rockaway and lindamar.
Down here in the monterey bay I’ve seen a lot of dolphins and sea lions, but more notably a lot of jumping small fish like anchovies. Anyway, They closed New Brighton and Sea Cliff because a witnesses sited a shark attack on a dolphin. It’s the ocean!
I came across a Sea lion carcass at the high water line on the north end of Linda Mar Sunday (6th). It had clearly been mauled.
I surfed Tunitas a bunch this summer, and I’m 90% sure I saw a white on one occasion. About 20 yards outside, I saw a large, dark fin that was shaped more angular than a dolphin’s. It was cruising north to south. I stared at it for about three seconds and booked it to the beach. The waves were crud so my buddy and I went home. Sketch.
Tunitas? You mean “don’t eat us” right?
haha.
Yeah, tons of wildlife at OB this year. Did anyone also notice a “red tide” effect last Tuesday?
The water at the north end of the beach was a reddish brown color and it stank.
Tunitas is always always sharkie. It is closer to Ano Nuevo ( little hell’s kitchen). September and October is always the season to be the next yum yum. Great Whites are always out there no matter what. Since the Farallon Islands is only 27 miles (43 km) outside the Golden Gate and 20 miles (32 km) south of Point Reyes. It’s not really really far for any Great Whites to swim back and forth for a yummy seal. Enjoy your poker games.
There is sea life in the ocean.