- Huge numbers of bull sharks are populating Queensland waterways this summer
- The monster creatures grow to be three metres long and can weigh up to 454kg
- Beachgoers are advised to ignore them – they will swim away if there’s no threat
Queensland fisherman have been warned that they may catch more than they bargained for when casting their lines this summer as Australia is hit with a bumper shark season.
Loganea mother Renee Gardner, who regularly tags sharks for the Department of Primary Industries, revealed that ever-growing numbers bull sharks are populating Gold Coast waterways in ever growing numbers.
‘To catch something that big and that round – that size, that girth – was just absolutely amazing,’ Ms Gardner told 9NEWS on Sunday, after hooking a 2.8 metre specimen in the Logan River.
Loganea mother Renee Gardner tags sharks for the Department of Primary Industries in QLD
Ms Gardner caught a 2.8m bull shark in the Logan River in Queensland before setting it free
‘Tagging’ is the practice of attaching a plastic ID to the dorsal fin as a ‘visual record’ that the shark has been internally tagged by the Department of Primary industries.
Details about the creature are recorded such as species, sex, length and a genetic sample is taken before the shark is returned to the water.
The Queensland population is booming, with Mad Fins Fishing host Brendan Elmslie said having a 454kg shark on the end of your rod is ‘insane’ – as shark fishing on the coast becomes an ever more popular pastime for anglers.
Numbers are on the rise primarily because there are restrictions in place regarding the sharks that can be caught – anything over 1.5m can’t be taken from the water under state law.
Mad Fins Fishing host Brendan Elmslie said he had caught a bull shark that weighted 454kg
Ms Gardner said that while sharks will be curious about humans, they most likely won’t attack
This angler caught and released ‘monster’ bull shark in Gold Coast waters that was 3.1m long
In addition, the warm water and seasonal migration of the species in contributing to the soaring numbers of sharks making Queensland their home.
But beach-goers needn’t worry – Mr Elmslie’s advice to swimmers is just to relax because ‘they’re gonna come in and check you out but if you’re not a threat, there’s good chance they’ll just leave you alone.’
Ms Gardner agreed that while sharks will be curious about humans in the water, they probably won’t attack because ‘they’d rather be chasing a mullet than chasing a person.’
Swimmers and anglers are advised to use caution this summer as the shark population swells