LOS ANGELES (AFP) - A shark bit a long-distance swimmer in California as it was being reeled in by a fisherman on Saturday.

The 2.13-metre shark bit the swimmer around 9.30am off Manhattan Beach, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said on its Twitter feed.

The fisherman had been struggling with the hooked shark for about 40 minutes when the fish bit the swimmer.

"Shark was hooked to fishermans line, long distance swimmer got close, was bit while shark was biting through fishing line," the LACFD tweeted.

The beach was closed for 1.6 kilometres north and south of the Manhattan Beach pier.

Paramedics took the victim to a local hospital to treat moderate injuries. The swimmer, listed as being in "stable" condition, was expected to survive.