A great white shark sighting on Sunday off Stinson Beach near San Francisco prompted the National Park Service to restrict water access there through Thursday.
The shark, believed to measure 8-10 feet, was spotted by the crew of a Coast Guard helicopter at the north end of the beach, 200-300 yards from shore. At that size, it would be a juvenile.
Lifeguards reportedly are allowing visitors to wade at Stinson Beach but are preventing them from venturing into or beyond the surf line.
Bay Area waters, particularly island seal rookeries, are home to adult great whites in the fall and winter. At this time of year, however, most have departed for a vast offshore region between the mainland and Hawaii.
White sharks typically feed on fish, not marine mammals, until they reach about 12 feet.
-- Image is generic and not of the white shark spotted off Stinson Beach
J-ust A W-hite S-hark? tu-dum tu-dum tu-dum (lest we forget that Fourth of July long ago.)
Posted by: Harvey Michael | Jun 27, 2011 at 05:49 AM