Newport Beach Reopens After Closure Due To Shark Sighting

NEWPORT BEACH (CBSLA.com) — A two-mile section of the ocean in Newport Beach closed after sightings of an eight-foot hammerhead shark on Monday is open again.

The closure was lifted around 4:30 p.m. after authorities said there had not been any more sightings in the area.

But a shark advisory remains in effect until at least Tuesday morning, according to Jennifer Manzella of the Newport Beach Police Department.

The shark sighting was reported around 11 a.m. near the Newport Pier, according to Newport Beach Lifeguards Capt. John Moore.

Witnesses along the Pier told lifeguards they saw the hammerhead shark charging some surfers in the water.

Maddie Newsom was in the area visiting colleges with her parents, when her trip to the pier got interesting.

"We heard some people whistling to some surfers that were in the water," said Newsom.

She grabbed her camera and started taking video of the shark and notified lifeguards.

They quickly got swimmers out of the water and posted signs. The water is off limits for a mile in each direction from the pier, between 10th and 44th streets.

"We just felt like we didn't want to take any chances and have an aggressive behavior happen," Chief Rob Williams of Newport Beach Lifeguards.

It didn't take long for word to spread as spectators posted videos on Youtube and Twitter.

The Sobkows are visiting from Canada and were disappointed they could not swim but let their toddler get his feet wet.

"Eight-foot shark isn't going to swim in water that shallow. Use common sense and still enjoy yourselves," beachgoer Adam Sobkow said.

The closure comes just 10 days after a stretch of Huntington Beach was closed when 10-foot hammerhead shark was spotted by a surfer.