Great white shark sighting!

A group of surfers said a 15-foot great white shark was spotted Thursday off Silver Strand Beach, although officials with the Channel Islands Harbor Patrol could not verify the sighting.

A few surfers told a Ventura County sheriff's deputy in Silver Strand about 1 p.m. that they had just seen the shark. The Sheriff's Department then reported it to the Harbor Patrol, Harbor Patrol Officer Allen Rich said.

"We had a boat go out there and warn the surfers who were in the water, but we didn't physically see it," Rich said.

The surfers stayed in the water despite the warning, he said.

"I've been here 20 years and there's never been a (great white) sighting that I'm aware of, but I suppose its possible," Rich said.

A great white shark was spotted March 9 off the coast of Carpinteria.