California has recorded 235 shark attacks in 75 years. Here’s what to know

A Monterey County woman’s death in a shark attack off Pacific Grove in late December marked the 17th shark fatality off California’s coast since 1950.

State data shows at least 235 shark attacks have been recorded in that span — and they can happen almost anywhere along California’s 840-mile coastline.

As summer approaches, and more people are expected to be out in the water, here’s everything you need to know about the history of shark attacks in California.

Read the full story here: 235 shark attacks have occurred off California in 75 years. See them all on a map

Here are key takeaways:

• Erica Fox, 50, co-founder of the Kelp Krawlers swimming group, was attacked off Lovers Point in Pacific Grove on Dec. 21. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the cause of death was “sharp and blunt force injuries and submersion in water due to a shark attack.”

• Nearly 87% of the 235 recorded incidents involved white sharks. Of the 17 fatalities, all but one involved white sharks.

• Despite the reputation of the “Red Triangle” stretching from Bodega Bay to Big Sur, only about 44% of incidents occurred there. State officials say there’s no single area that’s more dangerous.

• Annual attacks have risen slightly since the early 2000s, with the peak of ten occurring in 2025.

• Cal State Long Beach Shark Lab drone surveys from 2019 to 2021 found that a shark swam within 60 feet of a person on 97% of data collection days. On average, only about three injury-related bites per year are attributed to white sharks in California.

• Experts recommend swimming in groups, avoiding the water near dead marine mammals and staying out of murky water. Sharks are most active at dawn and dusk.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by journalists.

This story was originally published April 27, 2026 at 9:00 AM.