A pair of juvenile great white sharks was spotted less than 100 yards from a popular Southern California beach, prompting warnings to beachgoers.

Estimated between 5-to-6 feet long, the two sharks were first seen on Tuesday in the Surfside beach community of Seal Beach, according to Chief Joe Bailey, from the Seal Beach Marine Safety Department.

"It's not common for us to have them in Surfside," he said.

An initial search of the water by lifeguards Tuesday came up empty. Unable to confirm the sighting, they went out a second time Wednesday morning and spotted the young pair outside the surf line.

Bailey said the two sharks were about 75 yards from shore.

A lot of bait fish in the area may be a reason for the duo to come so close to shore, he said.

Officials posted signs around the beach warning swimmers of the sighting that read, "enter at own risk."

Rully Zombulovic said he was kite surfing Tuesday and saw one of the sharks, but still planned on returning to the water.

"As I was turning into the wave, he was right there, 50 feet off the beach," he said. "I went straight to the beach. It definitely changed the atmosphere.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the beach remained open.

Sightings were rare in the area and typically sharks are passing through, en route to another destination, Bailey said.