A kayaker fishing off Paradise Cove in Malibu was bitten twice and taken to a local hospital after what witnesses say was a mako shark encounter. Fellow fishermen pulled the man aboard a boat and his girlfriend, a retired lifeguard, helped him ashore before first responders arrived. Authorities initially called it a shark attack but later described it as a "fishing accident," and the beach remained open. Officials had not confirmed the shark species.
Kayaker Bitten Twice by Shark Off Malibu’s Paradise Cove; Fisherman Hospitalized
kayaker on beach fishing
A kayaker fishing off Paradise Cove in Malibu was hospitalized Sunday morning after being bitten twice during a reported shark encounter, local outlets said.
FILE — A person paddles a fishing kayak in San Francisco Bay on April 1, 2017. A fisherman kayaking off Malibu was reportedly bitten twice by a shark on Oct. 4, 2026.
What Happened
Witnesses told KTLA the angler had reeled in what they believed was a mako shark and was attempting to release it when the animal bit him, knocking him into the water. According to accounts, the shark struck a second time before swimming away.
FILE — A view of the Malibu Pier in Malibu, California, on Aug. 21, 2026. A shark encounter off a Malibu beach sent an injured fisherman to a local hospital.
Response and Injuries
Fellow fishermen quickly pulled the injured man aboard a nearby boat and returned him to shore. A manager at the Paradise Cove Beach Cafe said he observed two bite marks on the victim’s legs—one on the lower leg and another above the knee. The victim called his girlfriend, a retired lifeguard, who helped him from the boat, assisted him onshore and contacted emergency services. Los Angeles County Fire Department crews responded and transported the man to a local hospital.
A Shortfin Mako Shark swims under the surface in open water.
"He was bitten in two places," the cafe manager told KTLA. "I saw there were some teeth marks on his lower leg and above the knee."
Official Characterization and Safety
The Los Angeles County Fire Department initially described the incident as a shark attack but later referred to it as a "fishing accident," ABC7 reported. Video from the scene shows a lifeguard rushing toward the kayaker moments after the encounter while a small fishing boat remained nearby. Authorities kept the beach open after the incident.
Context
Witnesses reported the shark appeared to be a mako, though officials had not publicly confirmed the species at the time of reporting. Marine experts note that shark sightings in Southern California tend to increase in October, when warmer coastal waters draw prey and juvenile sharks; females may use shallower, warmer waters as nursery areas.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Los Angeles County Fire Department for additional information.
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