HUNTINGTON BEACH : Lifeguards Warn Ocean Swimmers of Rash of Stingray Attacks

More than 20 stingray attacks have been reported in recent days at Huntington Beach, where calm surf and relatively warm water brought out the flat fish, lifeguards said Tuesday.

“We’ve had a fair amount of stingray injuries,” said Huntington Marine Safety Lt. Gregory Crow. “So we’re trying to let everyone know they’re out there.”

Usually, the small, undulating fish with the barbed whip-like tail are more plentiful during warm summer months when they plague highly populated beaches.

“This month we’ve already reported 23 stings,” Crow said.

Lifeguards attributed the presence of stingrays to calm, one- to two-foot surf and relatively warm ocean temperatures of about 62 to 64 degrees.

Also, the county’s more popular beaches attract the most people and have a greater likelihood for swimmers to report attacks, lifeguards said.

San Clemente Marine Safety Lt. Bill Humphreys said he saw numerous stingrays south of the City Pier when he went skin-diving Tuesday.

“But we haven’t had one stingray attack, and they’re out there,” Humphreys said.

Stingray attacks were reported over the weekend along Huntington Beach, including Bolsa Chica and Huntington state beaches.

At Seal Beach, three swimmers were stung Saturday and two Sunday, said Seal Beach lifeguard Joe Bailey.

The best way to prevent stings is to do what lifeguards term the “stingray shuffle,” in which swimmers shuffle their feet when they walk through the surf.