Another beach evacuated after sunfish mistaken for shark

For the second time in as many days, a sunfish has been mistaken for a shark, prompting the evacuation of a South Shore beach. Police said Duxbury Beach was cleared Thursday after a lifeguard reported possibly seeing a shark. The harbormaster later said the "shark" was a sunfish. The lifeguard was not the first to make the mistake this week. A report of a shark in Marshfield on Wednesday also turned out to be a sunfish, the harbormaster said. In that case, Sunrise Beach near Foster Street in Marshfield was evacuated after the 10-foot fish was spotted.On Monday, Powder Point Bridge in Duxbury was evacuated after a 15-foot shark was spotted by a State Police helicopter.The Duxbury beach was closed for about two hours before officials gave swimmers the all-clear.

For the second time in as many days, a sunfish has been mistaken for a shark, prompting the evacuation of a South Shore beach.

Police said Duxbury Beach was cleared Thursday after a lifeguard reported possibly seeing a shark. The harbormaster later said the "shark" was a sunfish.


The lifeguard was not the first to make the mistake this week. A report of a shark in Marshfield on Wednesday also turned out to be a sunfish, the harbormaster said.

In that case, Sunrise Beach near Foster Street in Marshfield was evacuated after the 10-foot fish was spotted.

On Monday, Powder Point Bridge in Duxbury was evacuated after a 15-foot shark was spotted by a State Police helicopter.

The Duxbury beach was closed for about two hours before officials gave swimmers the all-clear.