After a shark sighting in Orange County prompted a stretch of beach to close Wednesday evening, lifeguards made the decision to reopen the beach Thursday morning.
A crew member on HB-1, the Huntington Beach Police Department helicopter, spotted an 8-foot shark from the air, according to a tweet posted by Newport Beach Lifeguards.
The shark was seen swimming about 200-plus yards off 36th Street in Newport Beach.
The city of Newport Beach contracts with Huntington Beach to patrol the area.
Lifeguards decided to close ocean access between Newport Pier and 56th Street in Newport Beach as a precaution.
City officials said if there were no more sightings, ocean access would reopen in the morning.
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Lifeguards met at 7 a.m. Thursday and decided to reopen the beach, according to Newport Beach police.
