Elevated ocean temperatures are drawing more stingrays into Southern California’s shallow coastal waters, prompting beachgoers, surfers and anglers to watch their step.
Southern California’s unusually warm coastal waters are creating favorable conditions for more than swimming, surfing and fishing this summer. Stingrays are gathering in the shallows in significant numbers, and lifeguards are treating a growing number of painful encounters between the rays and beachgoers.
The increase has been particularly noticeable along Orange County beaches. Bolsa Chica and Huntington state beaches have recorded more than 3,100 stingray incidents so far in 2026, roughly twice the total reported during all of 2025. Along the city of Huntington Beach’s 3.5 miles of shoreline, more than 2,000 incidents have been reported this year.
The trend extends south. San Diego beaches recorded more than 900 stingray injuries during the first half of the year, exceeding the number reported during the same period in each of the previous five years.
The surge comes as Southern California continues to experience exceptionally warm ocean conditions. A persistent marine heat wave along portions of the West Coast, combined with El Niño conditions developing in the Pacific, has helped keep nearshore water temperatures elevated.
For Southern California’s boating and fishing community, those warm-water conditions have already been noticeable in other ways. Anglers have watched changing water temperatures influence where bait and game fish are showing up, while boaters have experienced stretches of unusually warm water along the coast and offshore. Closer to the beach, those same conditions can influence the distribution of stingrays.
Round stingrays are common along Southern California and range farther south into warmer Pacific waters. They frequently settle into sandy, shallow areas, particularly when water temperatures rise and surf conditions are relatively calm.
That creates an unfortunate overlap with swimmers, surfers, paddleboarders and anglers entering and leaving the water.
Stingrays generally do not seek out people. Most injuries happen when someone accidentally steps directly on or very close to a ray buried beneath the sand. As a defensive response, the animal can raise its tail and strike with a serrated, venomous spine.
The simplest prevention method remains one Southern California beachgoers have heard for generations: the stingray shuffle.
Rather than lifting their feet and taking normal steps through shallow water, beachgoers can slide or shuffle their feet along the bottom. The movement can alert nearby stingrays and give them an opportunity to move away before being stepped on.
Certain areas of the Southern California coastline are particularly well known for stingray concentrations. Seal Beach has long had an area nicknamed “Ray Bay,” where warm-water conditions have historically attracted large numbers of rays. Researchers studying the area have documented dense groups of round stingrays occupying relatively small stretches of shallow water.
Despite their reputation among beachgoers, stingrays also serve an ecological purpose. By feeding on small clams and other bottom-dwelling organisms and disturbing sediment as they forage, rays are part of the natural nearshore ecosystem.
For anyone who is stung, hot water is commonly used as an initial treatment because heat can help reduce pain associated with stingray venom. Lifeguard stations at beaches where encounters are common are accustomed to treating the injuries, sometimes with multiple people soaking injured feet at the same time.
More serious injuries can require medical attention, particularly when a barb or fragment remains in the wound or when signs of infection develop. A sting to areas other than the hands or feet, severe bleeding, an allergic reaction or other concerning symptoms also warrant prompt medical evaluation.
For boaters, the issue is worth remembering when the day ends at the shoreline. Dinghy landings, beach launches, surf fishing, kayaking and stepping overboard into shallow anchorages can all put feet directly into stingray habitat.
Warm water may be delivering plenty of reasons to get outside in Southern California this season. Just remember that when stepping into the shallows, there may be something enjoying that warm water beneath your feet, too.
