Great White shark on the prowl

Shark advisory signs will welcome visitors at Avila Beach and Port San Luis for two more days after a reported shark sighting.

About 7 p.m. Friday, a 12-foot shark was seen chasing four harbor seals in the port’s mooring area, according to Carolyn Moffatt, president of the Port San Luis Harbor District board.

The shark appeared to be a great white, and it was hunting, she said.

"The important thing to remember is that great whites are not predictable," Moffatt added.

Waters are off-limits until 9 a.m. Wednesday. The beach remains open.

The Port San Luis Harbor District, which oversees Avila Beach, has a policy that makes waters off-limits for five days after what officials deem a credible sighting.

The district adopted the policy in 2003 following a fatal shark attack that summer at Avila Beach.
Avila waters also closed for the first five days in August after a shark was reported a mile off the Guadalupe coast.