Reported shark sighting near Marshfield was sunfish

MARSHFIELD, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- Police evacuated a beach in Marshfield Tuesday after a reported shark sighting, which turned out to be a false alarm.

Sunrise Beach was cleared just after 2 p.m. when the fire chief reportedly spotted the shark. Around 2:30 p.m., Marshfield Police confirmed the sighting, tweeting, "Sighting of Great White Shark off Duxbury. Advised against swimming!"

Mass. State Police responded to the scene along with other local officials to search for the shark. However, just before 4 p.m., a Mass. State Trooper tweeted that the reported shark sighting may have been confirmed too soon, as it was a sunfish that was spotted.

Sunrise Beach was evacuated and the search launched, all for a sunfish.

Cox Media Group