La Jolla is an important reproductive area for two shark species.

Pregnant Tope regularly occur in the area during the boreal summer as part of their reproductive cycle (Nosal et al. 2021). Between 2013–2017, 34 individuals were surgically implanted with acoustic transmitters and were monitored until the end of 2020 across 337 acoustic receivers deployed along the west coast of the USA (from Washington to California) and down to the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico. Individuals measured between 152–198 cm total length (TL) (mean ± standard deviation = 178 ± 10 cm TL) and all were females, with no males caught or observed. Most, if not all, of these tagged females were sexually mature, based on a size of 158 cm TL for 50% female maturity in southern California (Ripley 1946). For an additional sample of 21 females, pregnancy was confirmed, either by ultrasound (n = 13) or dissection (n = 8) with embryos clearly visible. Tagged individuals were classified as pregnant, as their size was similar to the sizes of confirmed pregnant females and showed distended abdomens. Individuals were detected in southern California during summer and autumn/winter post-tagging with some animals moving south to Mexico (and recaptured there) in the first year after tagging. Most of the Tope (n = 30, 88.2%) were detected along the Central Coast of California during the next two years and 21 individuals (61.8%) returned to La Jolla in Year 3, thus exhibiting triennial philopatry. One individual was detected through two consecutive triennial cycles (Nosal et al. 2021). Pregnant Tope spend multiple months at La Jolla where most of the gestation occurs before moving to pupping areas (Nosal et al 2021).

Between June–November of 2007–2011, 140 Leopard Sharks were caught in the area by hook-and-line (Nosal et al. 2013). Of these, 97.1% were female, measuring between 110–164 cm TL and 2.9% were male between 116–147 cm TL. Pregnancy was confirmed for 17 of these females (12.5%) either by allowing them to give birth naturally in tank facilities or by conducting an ultrasound. Five additional females stranded on the beach were dissected, and all of them were pregnant (Nosal et al. 2013). Aerial photographs of Leopard Shark aggregations were taken in August and September 2010, with up to 120 individuals recorded in a single picture (Nosal et al. 2013), although aggregations may be composed of hundreds of individuals. Most of the individuals (97%) are females (Nosal et al. 2103) with most of them assumed to be pregnant due to the presence of distended abdomens. Between 2009–2012, 20 females were tagged with acoustic transmitters and monitored across 120 km of California’s coastline (Nosal et al. 2014). The highest number of sharks and days detected on the array (7–784 days) were recorded from La Jolla. This area is a known summer aggregation site for Leopard Sharks, mostly near or inshore of the surf line (Nosal et al. 2013, 2014). This aggregation is visited yearly by snorkelers, and drone footage from 2020–2021 confirms the contemporary presence of these aggregations composed of pregnant females. These aggregations may occur in La Jolla so females can take advantage of calm, warm waters, which can promote embryonic development and serve as a refuge for energy conservation (Hight & Lowe 2007; Nosal et al. 2013). No neonate or young-of-the-year individuals have been recorded in the area.