A fisherman standing on Malibu Pier captured video of a rare hammerhead shark swimming off the Southern California coast last Thursday.
The sighting marked the first time in nearly a decade that the distinctive species has been spotted in local waters, according to marine experts. Video recorded this week showed the shark cruising about 100 yards from the shores of Surfrider Beach as an onlooker reacted with audible shock.
“Oh my god, it’s a hammerhead. It’s a hammerhead,” a person said in the video.
Nate Jaros, vice president of animal care for fish and invertebrates at the Aquarium of the Pacific, told KTLA 5 that hammerhead sharks are rarely seen in Southern California but appear in the region during periods of warmer ocean temperature. “Hammerheads, most species in general, kind of like deeper waters based on prey that they hunt. They don’t come in so close to shore,” Jaros added.
The smooth hammerhead shark spotted in Malibu can grow up to 13 feet long and feeds mainly on fish and squid, according to Oceana. The last hammerhead sighting close to Southern California beaches came in 2015.
Ocean temperatures across California have risen significantly in recent years as a result of El Niño conditions. Waters in Santa Monica and Oceanside eclipsed 75 degrees in late July, creating conditions that draw unusual marine life closer to shore.
The National Weather Service issued an update on Thursday stating that El Niño is “strengthening, with a greater than 90% chance of a very strong event during the Northern Hemisphere fall and winter” in 2026 to 2027. The sea temperature in the eastern equatorial Pacific was measured at 2 degrees Celsius warmer than normal.
Stingray sightings have also surged alongside the unusual shark appearance, with recorded incidents in Orange County this year more than doubling compared to last year.
In the viral moment that spread across social media platforms this week, the hammerhead’s unmistakable silhouette broke the surface within clear view of the pier, triggering excited commentary from witnesses who recognized the rarity of the encounter. The footage quickly drew attention from marine biologists and local officials monitoring the effects of warming waters on regional ecosystems.