Great white shark spotted on Santa Barbara coast

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KABC) -- A popular Santa Barbara beach remains closed Monday morning after a large great white shark was spotted near the shore.

The Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol says at least seven people reported seeing an 8- to 10-foot great white shark on Sunday. It was chasing after a sea lion inside the swim buoys at Leadbetter Beach.

Signs have been posted, warning the public of the danger. The beach will be closed for 24 hours after the shark was spotted, unless there is another sighting.

"One of the things that they described, which kind of deemed it as more credible, is they're describing the fin and the pattern which the shark was swimming, side to side motion versus an up to down like you'd see in a dolphin," said Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol spokesman Ryan Kelly.

Kelly says there were about two dozen shark sightings from Leadbetter to East Beach last year. About half were considered credible.