A kayaker was bitten twice by a shark off Paradise Cove in Malibu on Sunday morning, authorities said, after the man hooked the animal while fishing and tried to release it.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department said the incident happened about half a mile offshore at roughly 8:30 a.m. The man had reeled in what lifeguards believe was a shortfin mako shark and brought it onto his kayak. While attempting to free the shark, he was bitten and knocked into the water, then bitten a second time, according to county lifeguard Alex Buford.

A nearby vessel helped the man, and lifeguards brought him ashore before transporting him to a hospital. His condition was not immediately known. ABC7 reported that officials first described the encounter as a shark attack but later characterized it as a fishing accident.

The beach remained open after the incident. Buford said mako sharks usually stay in deeper water, so there was no plan to close the shoreline. The state database shows four shark incidents in California so far this year. Authorities say shark encounters remain rare, even as more people spend time on the water.

Reporting based on: www.usatoday.com, nbclosangeles.app.link, www.surfer.com.