A fisherman kayaking off a Malibu beach was taken to a local hospital Sunday morning after a shark encounter reportedly left him with two bite wounds.
The incident happened near Paradise Cove in Los Angeles County, KTLA reported.
Witnesses told the outlet that the fisherman had caught what was believed to be a mako shark and was trying to release it when the animal bit him, sending him into the water.
The shark reportedly struck him a second time before swimming away. The Los Angeles County Fire Department initially called the incident a shark attack but later described it as a “fishing accident,” according to ABC 7.
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. (MediaNews Group/Bay Area News via Getty Images)
The manager of the nearby Paradise Cove Beach Cafe said he saw injuries around the victim’s legs.
“He was bitten in two places,” the manager told KTLA. “I saw there were some teeth marks on his lower leg and above the knee.”
Video from the scene showed a lifeguard hurrying toward the fisherman as a small fishing boat floated nearby.
Another fisherman reportedly pulled the injured man from the water, brought him aboard his boat and returned him to shore, KTLA said.
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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. (Apu Gomes/Getty Images)
The victim reportedly called his girlfriend, a retired lifeguard, who helped him off the boat and onto shore before contacting emergency responders.
Los Angeles County Fire Department crews arrived at the scene and transported the victim to a local hospital, according to the outlet.
Reflecting on the incident, the cafe manager told KTLA, “We’ve had a lot of crazy stuff happen here, but we’ve never had a shark attack like that.”
The beach remained open after the incident, ABC 7 reported.
A Shortfin Mako Shark swims under the surface in open water. (Nano Calvo/VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Shark encounters are more likely in Southern California during October, when warmer coastal waters attract prey and juvenile sharks. Female sharks often use these shallow, warmer areas as nursery grounds, giving young sharks places to feed and grow with relative protection.
News Outlet contacted the Los Angeles County Fire Department for additional information.
