'Aggressive Shark' Prompts Ocean Access Closure In Orange County

SAN CLEMENTE, CA — An aggressive shark sighting prompted the closure of ocean access on the beaches in San Clemente on Monday, according to San Clemente officials.

City officials issued an alert about 10 a.m. Monday closing the water to any activities until 8 p.m. Monday pending no additional shark sightings, officials said in a tweet.

The "confirmed aggressive shark behavior" was seen near T-Street Beach, officials said.

"Beaches will remain open, but water access will remain closed until 8:00pm tonight (5/27/24), pending no additional shark sightings," officials said.

Shark attacks are rare in Southern California.

There have been a handful of shark attacks off the coast of Orange County recorded since the 1920s.

• Huntington Beach, Tower 16, 2004 - Non-fatal: A surfer suffered a shark attack under unknown conditions.
• Huntington Beach, 2015 - Non-fatal: A victim was bitten by a Great White shark while surfing.
• Newport Beach, 1924 - Non-fatal: A victim was bitten by an unidentified shark while fishing.
• Corona Del Mar, 2016 - Non-fatal: A victim was bitten by an unidentified shark while swimming.
• Dana Point, 1938 - Non-fatal: A victim was bitten by an unidentified shark while fishing.
• San Onofre, 2009 - A victim was bitten by an unidentified shark while surfing.
• Since the data has been recorded, only one person has died of a shark attack in Orange County, offshore of Newport Beach in 1962 in what was called a sea disaster.

See Also:

• OC's 'Summer of the Shark' May Not End
• Great White Shark Goes Airborne Off Orange County Coast
• At CA Beaches, There Is A Shark Nearby 97% Of The Time, Study Finds
• Newport Shark Attack Victim Survives Hours of Surgery
• Shark Sighting Closes OC Beach After Injured Whale Washes Up On Shore
• Shark Attacks In Orange County: How Likely Are They To Happen?
• WATCH: 'Speedy Gonzales' Shark Swim Off Capistrano Beach
• WATCH: Beached Great White Saved From SoCal Shore
• Great Whites Return For Pupping Season Along SoCal Coastline
• Rare Basking Shark Sighting In Dana Point

Patch Staffer Ashley Ludwig contributed to this report.