Huntington Beach shuts down due to reported shark sighting

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (NBC, KYMA) - A two-mile stretch of Huntington Beach was closed Friday after a surfer reported seeing a ten-foot Great White Shark, which was showing aggressive behavior.

The sighting Thursday also forced a popular surfing contest to stop competition for the day Friday.

The surfer who spotted the shark says it circled him and then swam toward him before changing direction.

Officials say no one else saw the shark, and there haven't been any sightings since, but they want to be safe.

"It's just a safety precaution that if we have that shark that exceeds that eight-foot limit, and we're seeing dangerous or aggressive behavior...The decision is the same and we're going to close to be safe and isn't put in a situation that might be dangerous," said Trevor McDonald, Safety Chief Huntington Beach Marine.

"I have been doing 50 years and I've never had a contest where I've had to shut down an event for a shark...That's a new one for me, yes," said Scott Waring, contest producer for Jack's Surf.

Organizers with the "Vans Jack's Surfboards Pro" competition are disappointed, but they say they respect the city's decision.

They were expected to continue competition at 7 a.m. Saturday.