Public Safety
Reported great white prompts 24-hour Huntington Beach water closure
Huntington Beach officials closed a roughly two-mile stretch of ocean water after a foilboard surfer reported a 10- to 12-foot great white shark circling about 300 feet offshore near Lifeguard Tower 16.
The report came around 3 p.m. Tuesday. The city’s Marine Safety protocols classify circling as aggressive behavior, prompting officials to keep swimmers and surfers out of the water from Seapoint Street to the Huntington Beach Pier.
Marine Safety crews searched by drone, rescue boat, personal watercraft and beach patrol but did not independently confirm the sighting, the Los Angeles Times reported. Officials nevertheless considered the surfer a credible source. The surfer was not bumped, bitten or otherwise injured.
Reported location: Near Lifeguard Tower 16
Water closure: Seapoint Street to Huntington Beach Pier
Reported size: About 10 to 12 feet
Injuries: None reported
Check signs before entering the water
The 24-hour closure was scheduled to remain in effect until at least 3 p.m. Wednesday, with additional patrols planned before reopening. People could remain on the sand during the closure. Because the planned end time has passed, beachgoers should rely on current posted signs and lifeguard instructions rather than this report for real-time access status.
Original reporting: Los Angeles Times — October 14, 2026 → · CBS Los Angeles — October 13, 2026 →