A large great white shark estimated at 14-15 feet long was spotted just 50 yards from shore in Santa Monica Bay on Thursday, swimming near an unaware paddleboarder before heading south toward the Santa Monica Pier.
Carlos Gauna, who observed and tracked the shark, said the untagged adult great white was spotted in an area known for juvenile shark activity but was notably larger than the typical young sharks seen in the region.
"I'm conservatively estimating this shark at around 14-15 feet long," Gauna said in an online post alongside his video. "I've seen a fair share of sharks in my days, and I'm pretty confident in my estimates these days."
Gauna followed the shark as it moved south from the north end of the bay toward the pier before airspace restrictions prevented further tracking. He alerted lifeguards on the beach about the sighting.
"It's a good reminder that we do live next to these apex predators daily," Gauna said. "It's a testament to just how rare a negative encounter with one can be."
According to Heal the Bay, Santa Monica Bay serves as a seasonal home to dozens of shark and ray species, with juvenile great white sharks being regular visitors to Southern California's coastal waters during warmer months. The young sharks, typically measuring up to 10 feet long, are drawn to the area by abundant prey and warm water conditions.
Adult great whites typically migrate south in winter when coastal waters drop below 60 degrees, though warmer ocean temperatures in recent years due to climate change and El Niño-like conditions have caused some sharks to remain in Southern California waters year-round.
The sharks congregate in shallow waters throughout the region, including areas off Huntington Beach, San Onofre, Long Beach, Santa Monica Bay and Ventura. They are frequently spotted by boaters, pier visitors, surfers and paddlers, particularly between El Porto and Manhattan Beach Pier.
Juvenile great whites primarily feed on bottom fish such as halibut, small rays and smaller sharks, while adults prey on marine mammals. The species is protected under California law, making it illegal to hunt, pursue, catch or kill great white sharks.
According to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, there have been only 13 fatal white shark attacks in the state since the 1920s. Experts note that poor water quality, powerful waves, strong currents and stingrays pose greater threats to ocean users than sharks.
Fish and Wildlife said that shark bites are extremely rare. They said that while humans are not normal prey for sharks, they can be dangerous when humans cross into their territory. Officials said that since 1950, there have been 225 shark incidents in California involving all species of sharks, at least 197 of which involved white sharks. Of those, 16 were fatal and all of the fatalities likely involved white sharks.
Regulators said that a shark incident is defined as any documented case where a shark approached and touched a person in the water, or touched a person’s surfboard, kayak, paddleboard, etc. This summary does not include shark sightings where no contact occurred, instances where sharks approached boats, or cases where hooked sharks caused injury or damage.
It is important to note that while human beach use and ocean activities have greatly increased due to the growing population and greater popularity of surfing, swimming, and scuba diving, shark incidents have not increased proportionally. This is even more evident when looking at incidents where a person was injured.
The increase in shark sightings is considered positive for ocean health, as sharks maintain ecosystem balance by keeping fish populations healthy. Scientific studies show that shark depletion can result in the loss of commercially important fish and shellfish species, including key fisheries such as tuna.
Great white shark populations in the Northeastern Pacific are thought to be low, ranging from hundreds to thousands of individuals, making protection efforts crucial for the species' recovery.