California Hits Record 10 Shark Encounters in 2025

California recorded its highest number of shark incidents in a single year in 2025, with 10 encounters reported along its coastline, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The figure surpassed the previous record of nine set in 2017 and included three injuries, one of which was fatal.

The milestone comes amid a spate of recent attacks that has heightened concerns among beachgoers in the state. On January 13, 2026, a 26-year-old surfer from Point Arena sustained puncture wounds to his upper thigh after an encounter with a shark about 150 feet from shore near the Gualala River in Mendocino County, roughly 115 miles north of San Francisco. Tommy Civik was surfing for less than 10 minutes when the shark struck, breaking his board in half and tossing him into the air. "It was like being hit by a car," Civik said. "All of a sudden, I was shot out of the water." He managed to paddle back to shore on his own before driving himself to a hospital, where he received stitches for wounds that also tore his wetsuit. Authorities responded to the scene around 8:45 a.m. after reports of a person in distress. Officials from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife are...