Fisherman Reels In Mako Shark, Releases It—Then the Shark Comes Back for a Second Attack

Malibu, California — A routine morning fishing trip turned into a frightening shark attack Sunday after a kayaker reportedly caught a mako shark, released it, and was then bitten by the same shark a second time.

The unusual encounter unfolded near Paradise Cove around 8:30 a.m., when people nearby noticed a commotion in the water and saw a boat move toward a kayaker who appeared to be in distress.

A manager at Paradise Cove Beach Cafe said he watched as a nearby boat picked up the fisherman and brought him toward shore. The victim was eventually met by Los Angeles County lifeguards and Los Angeles County Fire personnel, who helped him into an ambulance and transported him to a hospital.

Fisherman Bitten While Reeling In Shark

According to witnesses who spoke about the incident, the encounter began when the fisherman caught a mako shark while fishing from his kayak.

The shark reportedly bit him as he reeled it in, causing the fisherman to fall into the water.

A nearby fisherman witnessed what was happening and went to help. He pulled the injured kayaker from the water and onto his boat before bringing him toward shore.

The victim had also managed to contact his girlfriend, who was reportedly a retired lifeguard. She called 911 and helped coordinate the response as the fisherman was brought safely to shore.

The cafe manager said the injuries were visible when the victim arrived.

“He was bitten in two places,” the manager said. “I saw there were some teeth marks on his lower leg and above the knee.”

Shark Reportedly Came Back for a Second Bite

What happened next made the incident especially unusual. After the fisherman managed to remove the mako shark from his fishing line, he reportedly put the shark back into the water.

But according to witnesses, the encounter was not over. The shark allegedly swam back toward the fisherman before jumping out of the water and into the kayak, where it bit him again.

Another account said the shark circled back and attacked the fisherman a second time, although that account did not make clear whether he was still in the water when the second bite occurred.

The conflicting details leave some uncertainty about exactly how the second encounter unfolded, but witnesses consistently described a second bite after the fisherman had already been attacked.

Witnesses Rushed to Help

The situation quickly drew attention from people near Paradise Cove.

A nearby fisherman was able to get the injured man onto his boat, allowing him to reach shore where emergency responders were waiting. The cafe manager said the fisherman was conscious and able to walk from the kayak with assistance.

“He was able to walk from his kayak, with help, but you could definitely see the teeth marks,” the manager said.

The manager, who asked not to be publicly identified, said he has worked at the cafe for a long time and has witnessed plenty of unusual events around the popular Malibu location.

Still, he said this incident stood out.

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“We’ve had a lot of crazy stuff happen here, but we’ve never had a shark attack like that,” he noted.

Malibu Incident Draws Attention

Shark encounters involving people are relatively uncommon, making the reported circumstances of this attack particularly striking.

The fisherman was taken to a hospital for treatment after suffering bites to his leg and above the knee. His current condition was not provided in the information available about the incident.

The encounter also serves as a reminder of the unpredictable risks that can arise when fishermen handle live sharks at close range.

In this case, the fisherman reportedly survived the initial bite, removed the shark from his line and released it, only for the animal to return moments later.

For witnesses at Paradise Cove, what began as an ordinary Sunday morning quickly became a dramatic rescue involving a kayaker, a mako shark and two separate bites.

What do you think about this unusual Malibu shark encounter? Would you have released the shark after the first bite, or stayed as far away from it as possible? Share your thoughts in the comments.