COCOA BEACH, Fla. – Brevard County Fire Rescue officials say beaches near the Cocoa Beach Pier were closed several times on Monday due to a shark sighting.
Video from the Brevard Times showed the sharks in shallow water as a beachgoer stands nearby at about noon.
The sharks were identified as two black tips, measuring about 5 feet long.
Brevard County Ocean Rescue told Local 6 News the beaches near the pier closed temporarily due to the shark sighting and reopened later Monday. Families at the beach Monday evening said they had no idea just hours before a shark was lurking by the shore.
"Dude, are you kidding me? He's in ankle-deep water and the shark's right there," said Carrie Certa, visiting from Los Angeles.
"Usually you see them pretty far, but I mean, yeah, that's pretty close for a shark," said Tim Philpot, from Melbourne.
Lifeguards told Local 6 that the 200 yards north and south of the tower were closed until the shark moved on.
They said bait fish used for fishing can lure the predators closer to the shore. Ocean Rescue officials said they see this at some point every year during the summer.
"I mean, that's insane for them to be that close, but it's been happening a lot," said Philpot.
"I'm not coming back tomorrow, come on, no way," said Certa.
Lifeguards said people shouldn't be alarmed, just aware.?