Exclusive | Californias top shark tracker has a message for swimmers as great whites multiply: Theyre only there for one reason

A surge in shark sightings has terrified Southern California beach-goers this summer, but a legendary shark tracker says swimmers can breathe easy.The idea that local beaches are suddenly infested with bloodthirsty man-eating great whites is total “garbage,” according to veteran shark tracer Keith Poe, who has logged more than 33 years tracking one of the ocean’s deadliest apex predators.A series of jaw-dropping shark sightings off the coast, including a great white leaping directly out of the water behind and unsuspecting surfer, has people on high-alert.While frantic tourists and locals might think 2026 is turning into a real-life Jaws movie along the Golden State coast, Poe told The Post the dramatic uptick in sightings comes down to basic science as rising temperatures and an underwater buffet draws them in.“Here’s the way it works,” Poe revealed.“From San Diego to Point Conception, all of that area is primarily known as a juvenile white shark area, and the ones that move in close to the beach are governed by two things: temperature and food.”When coastal waters plunge below 60 degrees in the winter, young Great Whites — defined as juveniles up to 10 feet long — go south toward Mexico because their bodies can’t handle the frigid chill.

Currently, as waters warm and El Niño conditions cook the coast, those juveniles swim north into shallow, sandy SoCal bays like Santa Monica.Their target is easy prey on the ocean floor, like halibut, skates, and rays right off the shoreline.“These are fish-eating juveniles,” Poe insisted.

“They could care less about people.There is no danger.

They’re there for only one reason: food.”But there are red flags that beachgoers shouldn’t ignore.Swimmers should think twice about entering the water if seals or sea lions are congregating nearby and birds are diving around them, Poe said, as those are signs of a feeding frenzy that could attract bigger predators.

“If there’s marine mammals in the ...