San Mateo County Beaches Reopen After Shark Attack Robert Handa Gray Whale Cove in San Mateo County. (June 28, 2021) Beaches in the Pacifica and Montara areas of San Mateo County reopened Monday, two days after a shark attack triggered a full closure. On Saturday, a 6-foot great white shark bit a man in the leg near Gray Whale Cove State Beach. The victim, Nemanja Spasojevic of San Francisco, was treated and released from the hospital and is now recuperating at home. Nonprofit group Shark Stewards, which is dedicated to protecting sharks and their habitat, said there are more young white sharks moving north toward the Bay Area.