Holiday beach crowds thin after shark sightings

As the busy Memorial Day weekend got under way Friday at San Onofre State Beach, surfers noticed something unusual in the water — far fewer people.

A spate of recent white shark sightings along the Southern California coast, and a near-fatal shark attack at San Onofre last month, may have cooled the appetites of many swimmers and some surfers who typically flock to the beach this time of year.

“There aren’t as many guys here as there used to be for a holiday weekend,” said Mick “Kingfish” Rosine, 69, of San Clemente, after hitting some waves at San Onofre. Instead of waiting shoulder to shoulder in the lineup, surfers were spaced out in loose clusters.

The same was true at nearby San Clemente, where a white shark was spotted as recently as Wednesday, said Marine Safety Officer Blake Anderson.

“We have absolutely seen fewer people going in the water,” he said. While the beach wasn’t under a shark alert Friday, Anderson said lifeguards were flying a yellow flag — signifying caution — because of the recent sightings.

Last Sunday and Monday, 20 to 25 white sharks — some of them 10-footers — were spotted near shore between San Clemente and Capistrano beach, prompting lifeguards to close the beaches several times in a three-day stretch.

On April 29, 33-year-old Leeanne Ericson was swimming at the popular Church surf spot near San Onofre when she was bitten on her thigh by a white shark that tore away much of her leg. She was airlifted to Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla and is still recovering from her injuries.

Scientists say the stretch of coast on the border of San Diego and Orange counties, known for legendary waves and a rich variety of surf breaks, is also recognized as a shark “hot spot.” Tagging data, fishermen’s catch and eyewitness observations confirm that the beach is a nursery for the ocean predators.

Dale Northey, who has surfed San Onofre for 45 years, said he encountered one at close range last year.

“A friend of mine was yelling my name,” said Northey, 71, of Laguna Nigel. “I heard him the third time and I could tell by the urgency in this voice that it was a shark. I saw a fin coming at me 10 yards away, and I turned around and paddled near my friends.”

The experience was sobering, but didn’t scare him away, he said, noting that surfing poses risks independent of sharks. Over the years, he has sustained a head injury, sliced a fingertip and broke three ribs in in the water there. On Friday he emerged with a bloody scratch on his shin.

“It’s a fun sport, and if you really love it, you’re not going to give it up for sharks,” he said.

In fact, many surfers Friday were thrilled at the relative quiet.

“This is the sharks’ home,” said Max Caldwell, 19, of Mission Viejo. “We like it because it keeps everyone away.”

Lifeguard Mark Allen said he and other lifeguards at San Onofre work to keep beach goers informed of the risks as shark incidents unfold, with a series of escalating alerts. They issue shark advisories when the predators show up, give warnings when they exhibit aggressive behavior such as circling or breaching, and close beaches in the event of a shark attack.

At San Clemente, Anderson said lifeguards are also proactively talking to visitors about safety measures.

“If we notice a group that seems to be out of town, we go out of our way to educate them and let them know some of the risks of going into the water and the situation that has developed in the past month,” he said. “Our number one goal is the safety of the public.”

Nick Duclos of Salt Lake City — who was visiting San Onofre on Friday with his wife and 4-year-old daughter — said they’d read about the recent shark incidents and planned to stick near the shore, where they like to stay anyway.

“We’re just doing the same thing we would be doing whether there were sharks or not,” said Duclos, 36.

Steve Christiansen, of Corona, said he makes a surf pilgrimage to the site every Memorial Day with his wife. He relies on herd protection to stay safe in the water, sticking within a group of surfers in the lineup.

“I just make sure I’m not the farthest one out,” said Christiansen, 57.

Reveling in the unusually tranquil start of Memorial Day weekend, other surfers said they keep shark risks in perspective.

“They’re definitely out there and you have to be cautious, but I’m still going to surf,” Karina Rozunko, 20, of San Clemente.

deborah.brennan@sduniontribune.com Twitter@deborahsbrennan