Surfers fled the water on Wednesday at Morro bay after a shark sighting. Photo: KSBY/Dawn Feuerberg
Morro Bay is becoming quite the hotbed for recent shark activity. Just days after a 54-year-old woman was attacked while surfing, another shark was spotted off the central California surf spot. On Wednesday morning, surfers scurried to shore after spotting what appeared to be a Great White some 60 yards out to sea. The surfers claimed that the shark was somewhere between 10 and 15 feet, according to local news station KSBY.
Over the weekend, Elinor Dempsey was enjoying a surf out at Morro Bay when she was startled by an unexpected guest. A 6-foot juvenile Great White had chomped a bite out of her surfboard. Miraculously, Dempsey was able to escape the incident completely unscathed.
The two encounters in such a short period of time suggests that Morro Bay might be a favorite hangout for sharks. Juveniles typically stay closer to shore – like where surfers catch waves – because they like to prey on bottom fish and rays. And because of the abnormally warm water this summer, the sharks could be spending more time than usual in northern parts of California like Morro Bay.
