Fisherman Bit Twice by Shark During Malibu Kayaking Incident

A fisherman kayaking off a Malibu beach was taken to a local hospital Sunday morning after a shark encounter left him with two bite wounds near Paradise Cove in Los Angeles County, according to local reports.

Witnesses told KTLA that the man had reeled in what was believed to be a mako shark and was trying to release it when the animal bit him. The first bite reportedly caused him to fall into the water, where the shark bit him a second time before swimming away.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department initially described the event as a shark attack, but ABC 7 later reported that the agency characterized it as a fishing accident. That distinction reflects the circumstances described by witnesses, who said the encounter happened while the fisherman was handling a shark he had caught rather than during an unprovoked attack near shore.

A manager at the nearby Paradise Cove Beach Cafe told KTLA he saw the victim's injuries after the incident. “He was bitten in two places,” the manager said. “I saw there were some teeth marks on his lower leg and above the knee.”

Video from the scene showed a lifeguard rushing toward the fisherman shortly after the encounter, while a small fishing boat floated nearby. According to KTLA, another fisherman moved quickly to help, pulling the injured man from the water onto his boat and bringing him back to shore.

The victim then reportedly called his girlfriend, identified as a retired lifeguard. She helped him from the boat, assisted him once he reached shore and called emergency responders. Los Angeles County Fire Department crews arrived at the scene and transported him to a local hospital, the outlet reported.

The cafe manager said the incident stood out even in an area used to unusual events. “We’ve had a lot of crazy stuff happen here, but we’ve never had a shark attack like that,” he reportedly told KTLA.

Beach stayed open after the incident

Despite the dramatic rescue response, the beach remained open following the encounter, ABC 7 reported. No broader closures were announced in connection with the incident.

The event also drew attention because shark encounters in Southern California can become a greater concern in October. Warmer coastal waters can attract prey species as well as juvenile sharks, increasing the chances of people spotting them near popular beaches and fishing areas.

Marine experts have long noted that female sharks often use shallow, warmer waters as nursery grounds. Those areas can provide younger sharks with a place to feed and grow with some protection, which helps explain why nearshore sightings may rise seasonally even when serious incidents remain uncommon.

In this case, the reported circumstances suggest the risk emerged during a close interaction with a hooked shark rather than from a shark approaching a swimmer or paddler on its own. That detail may shape how the incident is understood by beachgoers, anglers and local officials reviewing water safety conditions along the coast.

Fox News Digital said it reached out to the Los Angeles County Fire Department for additional information. As of the reports cited, no further official details about the victim’s condition had been released.