Paramedics were called to the headland at Lennox Head, also known as Lennox Point, at 8.50am on Friday.

A NSW Ambulance spokeswoman said reports suggested the man was not bitten by the shark.

The incident occurred not far from where a major junior surfing competition, Skullcandy Oz Grom Open 2015, was due to start on Friday morning.

The competition has been cancelled for the day, and a decision will be made on Saturday whether it will resume.

Ballina Shire Council mayor David Wright, who was on the beach, told Fairfax Media that reports on the beach suggested the man's surfboard had been broken in two on Friday morning.

Bodyboarder Matt Lee, 32, remains in a serious condition in a Gold Coast hospital after he was mauled by a shark off Ballina, about 10 kilometres south of Lennox Head, on Thursday morning.

"We've just pulled the surfers out of the water," Mr Wright said.

"We're getting a helicopter to go and investigate, and water craft are going there as well.

"I heard that maybe the surfboard was broken."

Mr Wright said the incident occurred between one and two kilometres south from where the junior competition was due to take place.

"It's south of where we are, but much closer than the one yesterday," he said.

A NSW Police spokeswoman said initial reports to police suggested the surfer was knocked off his board, but, when officers arrived at the beach, the surfer had already left.

She said no further information was immediately available.

A Surf LIfe Saving NSW spokeswoman said club members from Lennox Head were patroling the beach on jet-skis and boats on Friday morning.

The organsiers of the Skullcandy Oz Grom Open 2015 have been contacted for comment.