‘Tragic accident’: Sydney fisher tangled in line and dragged into ocean after hooking shark

A “much loved and revered” game-fisher is believed to have been entangled in a line after hooking a large mako shark before he was dragged into the ocean in a freak accident.

The search continues for Paul Barning, who was pulled overboard while competing in the NSW Game Fishing Association’s interclub state championships 50 kilometres off the coast of Newcastle on Sunday.

Paul Barning is missing after falling overboard during a game-fishing competition.

The three other men on the boat, Dark Horse, tried unsuccessfully to rescue the 58-year-old. They pulled the shark onboard, but there was no sign of the Yowie Bay fisher.

An extensive multi-agency sea and air search continued on Monday but has found no trace of Barning, the secretary and a life member of the Port Hacking Game Fishing Club in Sydney’s south.

Marine Area Command Commander Superintendent Joe McNulty said the search area has stretched to 1500 nautical miles, and would extend as far as Port Kembla, south of Sydney, on Tuesday.

He described the incident as a “tragic accident” that occurred as the crew tried to tag and release the shark.

Barning is an experienced game-fisher.

“We believe the shark was quite large – their vessel is only 6.8 metres in length itself,” McNulty said.

“During that process of bringing the shark alongside, he’s become tangled in the fishing line, and the shark has taken off, and that fishing line was pulled taut and maybe contributed to him going over the side of the vessel. There’s no evidence to say that shark has attacked the person in the water.”

Mako sharks can range between 60 and 140 kilograms.

McNulty said Barning was not wearing a lifejacket at the time, and if he had, “that might have saved his life”.

NSW Game Fishing Association president Steve Lamond said the association’s thoughts were with Barning’s wife and three children, as well as crew members on board the Dark Horse.

“This devastating accident highlights the risks involved in doing what we all love – game-fishing,” Lamond said.

“Please look out for each other and stay safe.”

Barning and crew members of the Dark Horse hauled in a 395-kilogram tiger shark during the interclub championships in 2021.

The search comes a week after fishers competing in a Newcastle and Port Stephens Game Fish Club tournament reported several great white sharks in the same waters.

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