Rare Hammerhead Shark Spotted Off Malibu Pier Amid Warmer Waters

SANTA MONICA - A rare hammerhead shark was filmed swimming near Malibu Pier on Thursday afternoon, August 13, 2026, just a short drive up the coast from Santa Monica, drawing attention from local anglers and marine experts.

Video captured by a Los Angeles County fisherman and posted under the account @PIERMACKEREL shows the shark swimming roughly a football field from shore at Surfrider Beach. In the footage, the angler briefly hooks the animal before it spits the bait and swims free. The fisherman can be heard repeatedly exclaiming, "It's a hammerhead!"

Nate Jaros, vice president of animal care for fish and invertebrates at the Aquarium of the Pacific, told local media that hammerheads are seldom seen in Southern California waters. The last documented sighting this close to local beaches occurred in 2015. He said the current El Niño conditions are producing warmer ocean temperatures that can draw subtropical species northward.

"It's absolutely exciting when we see these rare visitors to our area," Jaros said. Based on previous regional observations, he identified the shark as likely a smooth hammerhead, a species that can reach about 13 feet in length and typically feeds on bony fish, small sharks, skates, and stingrays. These sharks usually prefer deeper water, making a near-shore appearance near the pier unusual.

Chris Lowe, director of the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach, also weighed in, noting he had expected hammerheads to appear in the region as waters warmed.

Local beachgoers and visitors to Santa Monica and nearby Malibu beaches should note that experts say the risk remains low. Hammerheads are not considered overly aggressive toward people unless provoked. Still, standard caution is advised whenever sharks are reported in the area.

Warmer-than-average ocean temperatures linked to El Niño have already been associated with increased stingray sightings along Southern California beaches this season. The hammerhead appearance adds another sign that subtropical marine life is temporarily expanding its range into local waters.

The video has circulated widely among local fishing and news accounts since Thursday, underscoring how unusual the encounter remains for the Malibu and Santa Monica coastline.