19 Jul 2017

Shark forces surfers out again at J-Bay

9:35 am on 19 July 2017

Two years after Mick Fanning was attacked by a Great White Shark, surfing at South Africa's Jeffreys Bay has been called off again with a Mako Shark spotted in the lineup.

Surfer Mick Fanning is hunted by a great white shark in South Africa.

Surfer Mick Fanning is hunted by a great white shark in South Africa. Photo: World Surf League

The shark sighting has prompted officials to abandon the day's competition at the World Surf League J-Bay Open.

Julian Wilson, who was in the water with Fanning in 2015 when the attack happened, was surfing his fourth round heat against South Africa's Jordy Smith and Brazil's Filepe Toledo.

The roughly two metre Mako breached out the back of the lineup abut 100 yards behind Toledo.

Todedo had to exit the water at Western Australia's Margaret River Pro earlier this year during another shark scare.

"Second time this year but glad to be here," Toledo said.

"The team worked good, they saw a big fish or shark spinning, it was a crazy situation but the skis came really fast to us and we jumped on the skis."

Wilson said he was not scarred or worried by the shark sighting, after famously paddling towards his good friend Fanning in 2015.

"It was the furthest thing from my mind anything like this happening," Wilson said.

"The first thing I think about is family, my wife, people that are close to me and make sure they're OK and know that I am fine.

"For me it is about going out there doing what I love and I will always enjoy it."