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Aug 29, 2008 2:19 pm US/Pacific
2nd Shark Sighting Keeps Stinson Beach Closed
STINSON BEACH (BCN) ―
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The shark sighted at Stinson Beach may have been a great white, like the one seen here.
AP
Stinson Beach will be closed to swimming and surfing until at least Tuesday after a report Thursday evening of a second shark sighting.
A local fisherman reported seeing a gray shining object about 300 feet off the north lifeguard tower around 6:45 p.m., said Michael Feinstein, Golden Gate National Recreation Area spokesman.
A surfer and former lifeguard spotted what is believed to be a great white shark around 7 p.m. Sunday 125 yards offshore, north of the beach's main lifeguard tower.
Stinson Beach was then closed to swimming and surfing but was to reopen Friday, Feinstein said.
Debra Casarez, of Hercules, was sitting on the beach with her husband Jack on Thursday evening when they spotted the shark. She said they saw its head and neck rise about 3 or 4 feet out of the water.
"It looked like it was going after a pelican," Casarez said. "There was a huge splash."
They did not see the ominous looking, telltale fin and it was hard to estimate the shark's size. She said her husband is an avid fisherman and he believes they saw a shark.
Casarez said an Australian man also was on the beach and he also believes the fish was a shark.
She said she feels bad the beach will be closed to swimming and surfing for the Labor Day weekend but it was better to report the sighting to the lifeguard.
Stinson Beach itself will remain open and visitors will be able to wade up to their ankles, Feinstein said. Surfing and swimming will be allowed again Tuesday if there are no additional sightings.
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