Several strandings of Bat Rays have been observed in a tributary of Redwood Creek. Water diversions and tides have resulted in low water levels and possible toxins may have lead to this incident similar to one occurring in 2011. Source: Pelagic Shark Research Foundation.

Brown Smoothound shark Mustelus henlei observed stranded in a shallow tidal pool in south bay near Foster city. Located south of San Mateo bridge, near region where Bat rays have washed up and a county sign posting water unsafe.

Reported to us by Pelagic Shark Research Foundation.

Two great white sharks battled from Manhattan Beach Pier
A fisherman on Manhattan Beach Pier hooked two great white sharks Tuesday, one estimated to measure 5-6 feet and the other 7-8 feet.

Both sharks were cut loose after being reeled to the surface and both catches were witnessed by Eric Martin, director of the Roundhouse Marine Studies Lab and Aquarium at the end of the pier.

White sharks are protected off California and landing them is illegal.

While the unnamed angler released both specimens, and may not have broken any laws, he appears to have been walking a fine line.

"He has steel leaders, and I looked in his bucket and saw that he's using large dead mackerel for bait, so he seems to be fishing for this stuff," Martin said.

These were the fifth and six white shark battles Martin has witnessed from the pier since mid-July. The first incident became tense because the angler was insistent on gaffing and hauling his catch onto the pier. He consented to let Martin cut the line only after a heated argument and a threat to call the police.

There has been a large abundance of market-sized squid in South Bay waters in recent weeks. This could be attracting rays, small sharks and and other prey items preferred by juvenile white sharks.

"It's so weird because I've also seen two swim-bys recently, including one that involved about a 7-footer that ended up about 20 feet from a surfer," Martin said. "The surfer had no idea."

--Image showing second of two white sharks hooked Tuesday on Manhattan Beach Pier is courtesy of Eric Martin

A Great White Shark was spotted in Monterey Bay off of a Moss Landing harbor mouth. It was seen by a Blue Ocean Whale Watch Tour and confirmed by Cummings, a naturalist who estimated that the shark was at least 20 feet.Sean Van Sommeran of the Pelagic Shark Research Foundation toured the coast both Friday and Saturday with Specialized Helicopters, spotting and photographing great whites on both days.

Confirmed shark sighting. Species likely a great White Shark from the description

From the Shark Research Committee:

On July 20, 2011, Myung Kil was surfing at Ocean Beach, San Francisco, almost opposite Beach Chalet. It was about 8:30 AM and he had been on the water 45 minutes. The sky was clear with air and water temperatures estimated in the low 60s and 50s Fahrenheit, respectively. The ocean was calm with decent swells for good small to midsized surf. No marine mammals were observed in the area. Kil reported: “I was waiting on my board for a set, looking outbound when slightly to my left, perhaps 10 o’clock and about 25 yards away, I saw a fairly large triangle fin a good foot to foot and a half and part of the sharks brownish back exposed from the trough of an incoming swell. It was moving perpendicular to me, cruised under the incoming swell and disappeared. I don’t recall much water thrashing when the shark broke the surface. I’d seen birds dive into the ocean for baitfish previously. I waited for seconds, registering that I had seen a shark, looked at the other surfers around me then saw a decent wave to catch back to shore perhaps minutes later. The shark had a very large dorsal fin, light and water shimmered on the back end of the shark, which was visible slightly out of the swell for a moment. In the light, and water, the shark looked brownish and I would guess 8 feet in length from my perspective.”

Sighting at Steinhart Aquarium Provided by docent Gail Hurley

Collected along the Pacific Shore, these sharks are also part of our San Francisco Bay Shark Study, where we catch, tag, measure, sample for DNA and release.

AXONOMY

CLASS Elasmobranchii (sharks and rays)

ORDER Carcharhiniformes (Ground sharks)

FAMILY Triakidae (Houndsharks)

GENUS/SPECIES Triakis semifasciata,

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
Short, broadly rounded snout. First dorsal fin is moderately large and its origin is over the pectoral fins inner margins. Second dorsal fin is nearly as large as the first one. Anal fin much smaller than the second dorsal fin. Pectoral fins broadly triangular. Grey to bronze-grey upper body with dark saddles and dots and a light ventral (bottom) surface. Max length : 198 cm or 78 in.

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT
Common from Oregon state to Baja California,Mexico. Prefers sandy and rock-strewn substrate near rocky reefs. Most commonly in enclosed muddy bays, including estuaries and lagoons, typically at less than 3.7 m or 13 ft depth, but ranges to 91m or 300 ft.

DIET IN WILD

Fishes (especially northern midshipman, sanddab, shiner perch, bat rays and smoothhounds), siphons of clams, crustaceans such as crabs and shrimp. Feeds heavily on fish eggs (herring, jacksmelt and topsmelt) attached to rocks and plants.

REPRODUCTION

Ovoviviparous. Litters 4–29. Young average 21 cm or 8 in at birth.

PREDATORS

Can live to at least 30 years. Part of the commercial shark fishery and very popular as a sport “fish.” Preyed upon by other sharks.

REMARKS

In San Francisco Bay, leopard sharks tend to remain in the Bay throughout the year, with some emigration during fall and winter.
Fossils of leopard sharks have been discovered in deposits dated to more than 1,000,000 years old in southern California.

Rocky Coast Main Tank CC06

A white shark estimated at 14 feet knocked a man fishing off his kayak in 40 feet of water. He was able to climb aboard another vessel and return to land safely. This appears to be a typical investigatory event and not an attack.
Pleasure Point is a popular surfing beach and there were no other incidents.

Garry Turner was bodyboarding when he was attacked.
Source: McCosker, J.E. and R.N. Lea. 2006. White Shark Attacks Upon Humans in California and Oregon, 1993-2003. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 57(17):479-501. (230)

John Forse was surfing when attacked.
Source: McCosker, J.E. and R.N. Lea. 2006. White Shark Attacks Upon Humans in California and Oregon, 1993-2003. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 57(17):479-501. (230)

Rob MacKenzie was surfing when attacked.
Source: McCosker, J.E. and R.N. Lea. 2006. White Shark Attacks Upon Humans in California and Oregon, 1993-2003. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 57(17):479-501. (230)

Deborah B. Franzman was swimming when attacked.
Source: McCosker, J.E. and R.N. Lea. 2006. White Shark Attacks Upon Humans in California and Oregon, 1993-2003. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 57(17):479-501. (230)

Michael J. Casey was bodyboarding when he was attacked.
Source: McCosker, J.E. and R.N. Lea. 2006. White Shark Attacks Upon Humans in California and Oregon, 1993-2003. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 57(17):479-501. (230)

Reed Richards was surfing when attacked.
Source: McCosker, J.E. and R.N. Lea. 2006. White Shark Attacks Upon Humans in California and Oregon, 1993-2003. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 57(17):479-501. (230)

Lee Fontan was surfing when attacked.
Source: McCosker, J.E. and R.N. Lea. 2006. White Shark Attacks Upon Humans in California and Oregon, 1993-2003. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 57(17):479-501. (230)

Casey Stewman was surfing when attacked.
Source: McCosker, J.E. and R.N. Lea. 2006. White Shark Attacks Upon Humans in California and Oregon, 1993-2003. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 57(17):479-501. (230)

Paul Euwer was surfing when the attack occured.
Source: McCosker, J.E. and R.N. Lea. 2006. White Shark Attacks Upon Humans in California and Oregon, 1993-2003. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 57(17):479-501. (230)

Jonathan Kathrein was bodyboarding when attacked.
Source: McCosker, J.E. and R.N. Lea. 2006. White Shark Attacks Upon Humans in California and Oregon, 1993-2003. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 57(17):479-501. (230)

Scott Yerby was surfing when he was attacked directly off the mouth of the Little River.
Source: McCosker, J.E. and R.N. Lea. 2006. White Shark Attacks Upon Humans in California and Oregon, 1993-2003. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 57(17):479-501. (230)

Greg Ferry was surfing when attacked.
Source: McCosker, J.E. and R.N. Lea. 2006. White Shark Attacks Upon Humans in California and Oregon, 1993-2003. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 57(17):479-501. (230)

Mark Quirt was surfing when attacked.
Source: McCosker, J.E. and R.N. Lea. 2006. White Shark Attacks Upon Humans in California and Oregon, 1993-2003. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 57(17):479-501. (230)

Colum Tinlet was a breathhold surface abalone diving when he was attacked.
Source: McCosker, J.E. and R.N. Lea. 2006. White Shark Attacks Upon Humans in California and Oregon, 1993-2003. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 57(17):479-501. (230)

Michael J. Sullivan was windsurfing when attacked. This is the "first verified attack on a windsurfer by a white shark."
Source: McCosker, J.E. and R.N. Lea. 2006. White Shark Attacks Upon Humans in California and Oregon, 1993-2003. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 57(17):479-501. (230)

Victim was a breathold abalone diver. Victim was attcked when leaning against his kayak.
Source: McCosker, J.E. and R.N. Lea. 2006. White Shark Attacks Upon Humans in California and Oregon, 1993-2003. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 57(17):479-501. (230)

An unidentified adult female was attacked while kayaking. Severe lacerations to the head and face.
Source: McCosker, J.E. and R.N. Lea. 2006. White Shark Attacks Upon Humans in California and Oregon, 1993-2003. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 57(17):479-501. (230)