Yuma and his shark-bitten board.

Multiple reports have come in today about a great white shark encounter that occurred near the South Jetty yesterday afternoon.

A reader sends us these photos of the victim showing witnesses the teeth punctures in his surfboard and wetsuit.

Bite marks in Yuma’s wetsuit.

Local Surfrider Foundation Chair Delia Bense-Kang tells the Outpost that the shark bit through the surfer’s board and wetsuit, but he was miraculously unharmed.

“The surfer’s name is Yuma,” Bense-Kang said. “He’s a great guy, super friendly and a really good surfer. I heard it got his board and his wetsuit a little bit, but he’s mostly unscathed.”

LoCO reached out to Yuma this morning, but we haven’t heard back. We will update if we receive more information.

Humboldt’s last serious shark attack happened in October of 2013, when College of the Redwoods english teacher Jay Scrivner was bitten by a great white while surfing near the North Jetty.

Bense-Kang said that California shark encounters are more frequent between September and December. 

“September onward into December is our skarkiest time of year,” Bense-Kang said. “Lots of bait in the water, seal pups, lots of activity, and that’s when the sharks are coming through.”