Shark off Pleasure Point attacks kayaker

SANTA CRUZ, Ca. (NBC) -- Capitola police sent out an alert for even the bravest watermen to be cautious or stay out of the ocean after a shark attacked a kayaker who was paddling near Pleasure Point in Santa Cruz.

The shark attack happened just before 9 a.m. on Saturday and the kayaker managed to escape without injuries, officials said.

The aggressive shark rammed the kayak with its head before sinking in its powerful jaws. The shark dragged the kayak until the ocean predator realized it was not worth eating, and swam away.

Hundreds of sharks, including great whites, live in the Monterey Bay, and shark expert Sean Van Sommeran said the highest number of sharks swim in the area from July until November.

Officials did not say what species Saturday's shark was.

Pleasure Point rivals Santa Cruz's West Cliff Drive as the most popular surf spot on the Central Coast, and surfers ride its wide range of wave breaks from sunrise to sunset.