As a man recovers from a shark attack...people using Northland beaches are being urged to keep their eyes peeled for the animals

A great white shark is thought to have bitten a 20 year-old surfer at Baylys Beach, near Dargaville.

He's now in Whangarei Hospital with wounds to his hand, an elbow and his face.

DOC marine scientist Clinton Duffy says it's common for sharks to pass through around this time of year.

He says they tend to move along the coast but are generally much further off-shore.