Santa Cruz city officials reopened beaches a day early after a shark attack scare this week.

A great white shark attack on Tuesday triggered a four-day beach ban by city officials.

The Santa Cruz Fire Department announced Friday morning that water activity restrictions have been lifted a day early at 9:00 a.m. Fire Department Marine Safety personnel confirmed that no shark activity had been observed in the area since Tuesday.

"Based upon information gathered through numerous water-based patrols and aerial review, staff has determined that normal water activities may resume immediately," fire officials said. "Additionally, all beaches and beach access in the area are open.

According to Santa Cruz Fire Chief Jim Frawley, the attack on Tuesday gave us all a scare, and thankfully it resulted in no injuries to the kayaker. We greatly appreciate the communitys patience and compliance with the water activity restrictions. In thoroughly combing the area, as recently as this morning, and not witnessing or receiving reports of any subsequent shark activity since Tuesday, we have determined that the public can resume water activities a day earlier than planned.

The decision to close beaches came after a shark on Tuesday chomped on a man's kayak near a popular surfing spot next to West Cliff in Santa Cruz. The kayaker managed to escape without injury.

Steve Lawson was paddling about a quarter mile away from Steamer Lane when the shark lurched toward his kayak and bit the front end, knocking him into the water, as reported by NBC affiliate KSBW.

"I felt like I hit a rock," Lawson said. "I saw a shark biting the front of my boat. When he let go, it rocked the kayak and I fell out."

For the next 10 minutes or so, Lawson floated in the water wondering if the 12-foot long shark would double back.

"I was frightened," he recalled. "I was trying to climb on top of the kayak, but I was not able to do that."

Fortunately for Lawson, people in the area and a U.S. Coast Guard crew plucked him from the ocean and towed in the kayak, which now features brand new bite marks.

Despite the attack, Lawson vows to return to the water. Only this time, he plans to stay a little closer to shore.

A great white shark attacked a kayaker near a popular surfing spot in Santa Cruz, but the man managed to escape without injury. (July 11, 2017) Photo credit: NBC Bay Area

This is not the only shark sighting in Santa Cruz in recent weeks. A few surfers at Sundays memorial paddle out for legendary surfer and wetsuit pioneer Jack O'Neill said they spotted a 15-foot shark breaching the surface of the water.

Sean VanSommeram, the executive director of the Pelagic Shark Research Foundation, said the attack on Lawson "looks like something a white shark might do."

He has been tracking the shark population in Santa Cruz for decades and has noted a dramatic increase in the great white population in recent years.

"I think its the warmer water and the abundance of prey," VanSommeram said.

That's a fact that most surfers in Santa Cruz don't seem to mind.

"I'm more worried about drowning and things like that, than a shark," surfer Steve West said.

Published at 11:59 AM PDT on Jul 14, 2017 | Updated at 12:19 PM PDT on Jul 14, 2017

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Santa Cruz Beaches Reopen Early Following Shark Attack Scare - NBC Bay Area