The shark also lifted the board almost a foot above the water off Huntington State Beach. The close encounter with the animal, reported to be between 6 and 8 feet long, prompted officials to close a mile-long portion of the coastline, banning all in-water activities.
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A shark sighting has led to a beach closure in the Newport Beach area.
Lifeguards in boats could not find the shark later Thursday night and would try again Friday morning to determine whether beaches could be reopened.
Last month, a 2-mile section of Huntington Beach was closed after a 5-to-8-foot shark bumped the underside of another surfer’s board. An off-duty lifeguard was surfing at the time and witnessed the aggressive behavior, said Herman.
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But an advisory remains in effect until about 3:30 p.m. warning swimmers to be cautious, a state beach representative says. Lifeguards cleared the beaches Thursday evening to check on the shark report.
