Monday morning’s shark encounter at Dillon Beach rattled surfers from Sausalito to Novato. It also reminded everyone what it means to share Marin County’s wild Pacific shoreline with apex predators.
A local surfer escaped injury after a shark struck and damaged his board near the mouth of Tomales Bay. Officials posted warnings but didn’t close beaches from Dillon Beach to Point Reyes Station.
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Shark Attack at Dillon Beach: What Happened Near Tomales Bay
The incident happened between 9 and 10 a.m. off Dillon Beach. Families from San Rafael, Mill Valley, and Fairfax often come here for surf lessons and foggy walks.
Marin County Fire Battalion Chief Graham Groneman said the surfer was in the water near the mouth of Tomales Bay when a shark hit the board. The board took the damage, but the surfer was unharmed.
Many in Stinson Beach and Bolinas are calling that incredibly lucky. Shark researchers aren’t surprised by the location—these waters are a well-known great white shark habitat.
Scientists often track these animals along the Marin and Sonoma county coastlines. It’s just part of life here.
Board Damaged, Beach Warned – But Not Closed
The shark’s bite left clear marks on the surfboard. Officials quickly treated it as a confirmed shark attack.
Signs went up around Dillon Beach warning of recent shark activity. That’s pretty standard in Marin County when this sort of thing happens.
Unlike some Southern California beaches that might close after shark sightings, local authorities decided to keep Dillon Beach open. For beachgoers from Corte Madera, Larkspur, and Tiburon, access stays open—just be extra careful in the water.
State Wildlife Officials Testing for Shark DNA
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) collected swabs from the damaged surfboard. DNA analysis can often reveal the shark species involved.
It’s an important tool for managing human–wildlife interactions along the coast from Muir Beach to Bodega Bay. Because of the holiday season, CDFW officials say results will likely take a while.
Still, based on decades of data and the known ecology of Tomales Bay and Point Reyes National Seashore, experts strongly suspect a great white shark.
A Long History of Documented Shark Encounters
Since 1950, CDFW has recorded 229 shark encounters along the California coast. Most of them involve great white sharks.
That tally includes bites, hits on surfboards, and close calls from San Diego to the cliffs near Jenner. For Marin County residents in places like Greenbrae and San Anselmo, that’s a reminder that while shark encounters are rare, they do happen—especially in the seal-rich waters off our coastline.
Second Incident This Month Along the Marin–Sonoma Coast
The Dillon Beach attack isn’t the only one this month. On December 12, another surfer got bitten on the hand at North Salmon Creek Beach in Bodega Bay.
That spot’s just over the Sonoma County line and draws surfers from Petaluma and Rohnert Park. That surfer needed hospitalization, which really drives home that the risk is real up and down this stretch of the Pacific.
Why Shark Activity May Be Increasing
Marine experts point to growing populations of seals and sea lions along the Marin and Sonoma coasts. From haul-out areas near Point Reyes and Drakes Bay to the rocks off Rodeo Beach, these marine mammals are prime prey for great white sharks.
Officials say sharks often mistake surfboards or paddleboards for prey silhouettes from below. As sea lion and seal numbers rebound, sharks follow their food, so overlap with surfers, kayakers, and open-water swimmers from Marin City to Fairfax just gets more likely.
Beaches Stay Open, But Caution Is the New Normal
Shark sightings and winter storms have been making headlines, but Dillon Beach, Stinson Beach, and Muir Beach will stay open. Local agencies admit the ocean’s never totally safe, but you can still enjoy it if you’re careful and pay attention.
If you’re heading out from Novato, San Rafael, or Mill Valley for a day at the coast, officials suggest a few things:
Living in Marin County means you get the best of the coast—foggy mornings at Dillon, golden sunsets at Stinson. But let’s face it, we’re just visitors out there. The ocean’s wild, and sharks are part of the deal. With a little caution (and maybe a healthy dose of respect), we can keep enjoying these beaches.
Here is the source article for this story: Dillon Beach surfer attacked by shark
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