Shark Attack 'Warning' Signs Are A Confirmed Hoax

A hoax that began in California with the aim of keeping non-locals out of a prime surfing spot has drifted to the Jersey Shore.

Signs warning bathers to keep out of the water due to shark encounters popped up in several Monmouth County communities this week, presumably with similar intentions.

The Monmouth County signs were slightly different from their California counterparts. The New Jersey version included a U.S. Coast Guard logo instead of a California state parks logo and detailed three made-up sightings over the past week in Belmar, Spring Lake and near Manasquan Inlet.

Printed underneath the details of the sightings was a message warning bathers to remain out of the water for 24 to 48 hours "due to the aggressive nature of these encounters," which included a shark biting a kayak, two fishermen spotting a shark off the beach between Spring Lake and Sea Girt and a paddleboarder whose board received "slight damage" after coming upon a shark near Manasquan Inlet.

All of the incidents were made up, according to personnel at U.S. Coast Guard Station Manasquan Inlet.

"It was absolutely a hoax," said Tom Francz, of Station Manasqan. "There was one on the west coast that went out around the exact same time."

Coast Guard officials are currently investigating the signs.

California media has reported the signs posted near their beaches were aimed at keeping non-local surfers away from the water as the first good swell in months was predicted for the Santa Cruz area.

Both the California and New Jersey signs have been removed.