UPDATE: San Clemente city beaches are no longer closed, but are still under advisory.

Shark activity off southern Orange County’s coastline continues days after a woman was bitten off San Onofre State Beach.

Nine 8-to-10-foot sharks have been spotted around Poche Beach in Dana Point; an 11-footer swam under the pier at San Clemente; two surfers were chased out of the water at Upper Trestles; and a shark was seen acting aggressively at Lower Trestles, according to reports.

These sightings might be credited to more watchful eyes scanning the coast and an increased fear after a 36-year-old Vista woman was bitten in the right leg. Lifeguards, at least in San Clemente, aren’t taking any chances.

While the closures span from the end of Trails through the northern border of San Clemente, most surfers in State Parks areas aren’t being kicked out of the water for paddling out at places like Lower Trestles. The popular surf spot is walking distance from Saturday’s shark attack and remains crowded.

But try to get in the water at San Clemente city beaches, and you’ll be called out of the water by lifeguards who are taking a more strict stance on the ocean closure. Lifeguards have posted red flags to warn people of hazardous conditions.

“There’s been reports of aggressive sharks, a large number of sharks and also the attack,” said San Clemente lifeguard chief Bill Humphreys.

You may even get a citation for surfing at city beaches, though Humphreys said city lifeguards have yet to give out any tickets.

Humphreys said that all Orange County agencies follow the same protocol in determining whether to close their beaches, based on the size of sharks seen, as well as their behavior.

State Parks, however, don’t have the manpower to continuously keep their beaches closed and physically remove people from the water, he said.

“Even though people are out surfing, they still have their water closed,” he said.

But in city beaches, lifeguards are taking a firm stance. If they see a surfer in the water, they will be called out by lifeguards immediately.

“The seriousness has escalated. And we do have the manpower to enforce. It’s a real slippery slope if you allow people to go in the water when it’s closed. When you allow 2 people, it turns to 20 and 40. We have kids, we have families, we have a variety of people to look out for,” Humphreys said. “Say that person gets hurt, with any kind of injury, now the lifeguard have to respond in this water that we’ve deemed potentially dangerous.”

The amount of shark activity this week: “It’s nothing we’ve seen before,” he said.

According to a news release sent out by the city, the 11-foot shark near San Clemente Pier was spotted Sunday afternoon, reported by a local fisherman. Then there was a report by State Lifeguards of aggressive shark behavior at Upper Trestles Sunday when a shark chased surfers out of the water.

San Clemente City beaches were planned to open by Tuesday morning, but then during a Monday flight down the coast, the Orange County Fire Authority helicopter spotted the pack of nine great white sharks just outside the surfline at Capo Beach.

Humphreys said the plan is to open by Wednesday morning, with lifeguards re-evaluating today. They are flying drones over the coast to keep an eye out for sharks as well as searching for them by boat.

“We’re just taking a very prudent and cautious approach right now,” he said.

Shark attack victim Leeanne Ericson remained in critical condition Tuesday, according to Scripps Memorial Hospital spokesman Steve Carpowich. He would not elaborate on any medical procedures she’s had because of patient privacy laws.

It’s been a tough week for surfers, as waves have been glassy all day and in the 3-5 foot range.

A surfer checks out the waves before heading in to the water at Upper Trestles at San Onofre State Beach, on Monday, May 1, 2017. A woman was attacked by a shark off San Onofre State Beach just south of Trestles Saturday afternoon, the second attack in one year off local waters. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A surfer walks out of the water at Upper Trestles at San Onofre State Beach, on Monday, May 1, 2017. A woman was attacked by a shark off San Onofre State Beach just south of Trestles Saturday afternoon, the second attack in one year off local waters. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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A surfer rides a wave at Upper Trestles at San Onofre State Beach, on Monday, May 1, 2017. A woman was attacked by a shark off San Onofre State Beach just south of Trestles Saturday afternoon, the second attack in one year off local waters. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Beach-goers watch surfers in the water at Upper Trestles at San Onofre State Beach, on Monday, May 1, 2017. A woman was attacked by a shark off San Onofre State Beach just south of Trestles Saturday afternoon, the second attack in one year off local waters. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A surfer walks out of the water at Upper Trestles at San Onofre State Beach, on Monday, May 1, 2017. A woman was attacked by a shark off San Onofre State Beach just south of Trestles Saturday afternoon, the second attack in one year off local waters. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)



A surfer heads in to the water at Upper Trestles at San Onofre State Beach, on Monday, May 1, 2017. A woman was attacked by a shark off San Onofre State Beach just south of Trestles Saturday afternoon, the second attack in one year off local waters. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A surfer rides a wave at Upper Trestles at San Onofre State Beach, on Monday, May 1, 2017. A woman was attacked by a shark off San Onofre State Beach just south of Trestles Saturday afternoon, the second attack in one year off local waters. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A surfer rides a wave at Upper Trestles at San Onofre State Beach, on Monday, May 1, 2017. A woman was attacked by a shark off San Onofre State Beach just south of Trestles Saturday afternoon, the second attack in one year off local waters. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A surfer rides a wave at Upper Trestles at San Onofre State Beach, on Monday, May 1, 2017. A woman was attacked by a shark off San Onofre State Beach just south of Trestles Saturday afternoon, the second attack in one year off local waters. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Surfers walk on an old section of Pacific Coast Highway that leads to Trestles at San Onofre State Beach, on Monday, May 1, 2017. A woman was attacked by a shark off San Onofre State Beach just south of Trestles Saturday afternoon, the second attack in one year off local waters. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)



San Clemente surfer Kris Heineman was out surfing in north San Clemente Sunday afternoon, when a lifeguard blew his whistle and called him out of the water. He complied, and the lifeguard recommended he surf 500 yards north – out of city jurisdiction – at Poche Beach.

“It seems like a weird thing to recommend. As long as it’s out of their jurisdiction, go surf 5 feet this way and it’s OK,” Heineman said. “Obviously, as a surfer, you know it’s part of being in the water. But they have more information than the average person. It seems like it would be their duty to say ‘right now is a heightened time, everywhere is a heightened risk, and there’s been more activity lately, so use your best judgment.’ He didn’t say any of that, just go surf 500 feet north.”

What Heineman didn’t know at the time: An hour earlier, a photographer shot images of nine great white sharks further north at Poche Beach.

“There’s no border in the water,” Heineman said.

“It definitely makes you think twice.”