SANTA MONICA—On July 13, video footage was captured of a fisherman fishing with a rod and reel, off the Santa Monic Pier who was dragged into the water by a juvenile shark on his fishing line.
A California local posted the entire scene on Instagram. This active little shark pulled the fisherman down into the water. The family of the fisherman was pulling on the other end of reel as the fisherman appeared to be attempting to climb a rope back up to the pier, when he got pulled back down into the waters a second time.
After the second fall into the water, the fisherman was rescued without further ado. There was no injury to he or the shark.
Reports indicate that it is not uncommon for juvenile white sharks to be active around the Santa Monica Pier. These are smaller sharks that feed on small fish and stingrays. They measure no more than 10 feet long.
There are many bacteria warnings for area beaches that are listed on the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health webpage. Health officials warn against the consumption of fish and other seafood caught off the Santa Monica Pier due to “toxic levels of mercury and PCBs found in the very waters the sharks were swimming in.
According to the Ocean Sport Fishing Regulation handbook, updated on January 13, 2026, Leopard Shark fishing is open year-round in all depths with specific details limits are in the handbook.
The person who was drug into the waters by the juvenile shark may not have been purposely fishing for White Shark. It is important to note that baiting and fishing for White Shark is illegal. It would be at the discretion of California Fish and Wildlife to determine if his actions were intentional. Specific rules and codes on fishing for white shark are as follows.
White shark may not be taken, except under permit issued by the Department pursuant to Section 1002 of the Fish and Game Code for scientific or educational purposes.
Shark, White, Taking and Attracting (FGC §5517) (a) Except as authorized by a permit issued pursuant to Section 1002, or as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 8599, it is unlawful to do any of the following:
(1) Take any white shark (Carcharodon carcharias).
(2) Use any shark bait, shark lure, or shark chum to attract any white shark.
(3) Place any shark bait, shark lure, or shark chum into the water within one nautical mile of any shoreline, pier, or jetty when a white shark is either visible or known to be present.
(4) Place any shark bait, shark lure, or shark chum into the water for the purpose of viewing any shark when a white shark is visible or known to be present.
(b) For purposes of this section, “shark bait, shark lure, or shark chum” means any natural or manufactured product or device used to attract sharks by the sense of taste, smell, or sight, including, but not limited to, blood, fish, or other material upon which sharks may feed, and surface or underwater decoys.
