An aerial sighting of more than two dozen six- to 10-foot sharks between Cotton’s Point and Capistrano Beach Sunday, May 21, closed San Clemente city beaches for the rest of the day.

An Orange County Sheriff’s Department helicopter spottedd the sharks shortly before 4 p.m., according to Nick Giugni, a marine safety officer with San Clemente City Lifeguard Department. Twelve sharks were seen 25 to 100 yards off North Beach.

“That’s probably the most so far,” said Giugni, putting Sunday’s sighting into the context of weekly to daily shark reports since early spring.

Lifeguards at San Clemente’s Main Beach closed the water on Sunday afternoon, May 21, 2017, after a Sheriff’s helicopter spotted several great white sharks near the shore. Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer

A sign at San Clemente’s North Beach warns beachgoers of recent shark sightings on Sunday, May 21, 2017. Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer

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A sign at Capistrano Beach warns beachgoers of recent shark sightings on Sunday, May 21, 2017. Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer

Beachgoers play along the edge of the water after lifeguards closed the beach at San Clemente’s Main Beach due to several great white shark sightings on Sunday, May 21, 2017. Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer

A beachgoer walks along the edge of the water at San Clemente’s Main Beach after lifeguards closed the beach due to several great white shark sightings on Sunday, May 21, 2017. Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer



Beachgoers play along the edge of the water after lifeguards closed the beach at San Clemente’s Main Beach due to several great white shark sightings on Sunday, May 21, 2017. Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer

Lifeguards at San Clemente’s Main Beach closed the water on Sunday afternoon, May 21, 2017, after a Sheriff’s helicopter spotted several great white sharks near the shore. Photo By Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer

The lifeguard department first issued a four-hour closure of city beaches at 10:30 a.m. Sunday after a sighting of an eight to nine-foot shark at the end of San Clemente Pier. Then, at 1 p.m., the department received another sighting report of a six to seven-foot shark, also off the pier.

Since the second one was shorter than eight feet, marine safety officers downgraded the closure to a warning and reopened the water for beachgoers to swim at their own risk. But with the sheriff’s helicopter spotting about 25 sharks, with a dozen grouped together, officers reestablished the closure in the afternoon through the reevaluation Monday at 8 a.m.

“If there’s one in the eight (foot) plus range, we usually close beaches for at least four hours, but this closure we’re going to keep it for the remainder of the day,” Giugni said. “We can’t confirm it’s going to be reopened, but we will reevaluate and make the safest call.”

With elevated shark activity, marine safety officers recommend abiding by postings to stay out of the water. Even with warnings and advisories, there is a risk, Giugni said.

Capistrano Beach and Shorecliffs Beach have been under a shark advisory for about two weeks, said Brad Herzog, a captain for OC Lifeguards.