At Huntington Beach, California, Jake Hemann eagerly took a surfboard to the water. An hour later, he found himself at the lifeguard station, soaking his aching foot in a bucket of hot water. He was not alone; four others joined him with similar injuries, all from stingray encounters.
This scene has become all too common at Bolsa Chica State Beach and neighboring Southern California beaches. A marine heat wave has led to a significant uptick in stingray incidents. More stingrays and people are converging on these shores. Hemann, visiting from New Mexico, stepped on what he believed was a sharp stick while learning to surf. “It hurt pretty bad,” he shared, describing the pain shooting to his ankle.
The increase in stingray incidents is notable. Bolsa Chica and Huntington State Beaches recorded over 3,100 incidents this year, doubling last year’s figure. The 3.5-mile stretch of Huntington Beach alone noted over 2,000 stings this year. Meanwhile, San Diego’s beaches reported over 900 incidents in the first half of 2026, surpassing previous records for the same period.
Bryan R. Etnyre, state park superintendent in Northern Orange County, acknowledges the trend. “We’re definitely seeing an increase,” he noted. Consistently warm ocean temperatures staying in the 60s contribute to this rise. Round stingrays, native to Pacific waters from Panama to Southern California, gravitate toward shorelines in such conditions.
Chris Lowe, a marine biology professor and director of the Shark Lab at California State University, Long Beach, explains that declines in species that prey on stingrays have led to their population growth. Shark, sea lion, and giant sea bass populations have diminished, paving the way for more stingrays. Climate change and a current marine heat wave have also contributed to the increase.
During El Niño events, warm parts of the central Pacific alter global weather patterns. NOAA confirmed such an event this June, which contributed to warmer waters. More people flocked to beaches seeking outdoor activities, particularly since the coronavirus pandemic. Warm water attracts swimmers, inadvertently increasing stingray encounters.
Stingray injuries occur when unassuming beachgoers step on them. The rays instinctively lash out, digging venomous barbs into their stepper. Lifeguards advise the “stingray shuffle,” encouraging bathers to gently move their feet through the sand to displace rays instead of disturbing them.
Chris Lowe mentioned Seal Beach, known as “ray bay,” where warm water from a power plant attracts many stingrays. While lifeguards there see minimal change in sting numbers, researchers found 200 rays sweeping through a 75-foot section of beach one morning.
“During El Niños, we get more of them up from the south,” Lowe commented, “and they come closer to shore. This year, we’re expecting record numbers.”
Stingray advisory efforts by Lowe aim to reduce the number of stings and protect rays. Some beaches use apps to alert bathers about sting occurrences. A company developed surf booties advertised as barb-resistant, but swimmers should still tread carefully.
At Bolsa Chica State Beach, people gathered around, nursing sting injuries with hot water soaks. Dr. Christanne Coffey from UC San Diego Health advises that most stings resolve without severe medical intervention. Persisting symptoms like redness and swelling may indicate complications needing medical attention.
Allen Lowry, stung while playing with his grandson, experienced the intense pain but remains committed to swimming regularly. The stings, although painful, don’t deter his passion. “Usually, once the pain you feel goes away, you feel fine the next day,” Lowry commented.
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