AMAZING VIDEO, PHOTOS: Fishos help tiger shark back to sea
WHEN a trio of fishing mates went to wet a line, they didn’t expect they’d be helping a massive tiger shark back into her home.
Bundaberg
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WHEN Brandon and Ethan Hornby and Tyler Harvey went fishing at Chinamans Beach, Agnes Water, they didn't expect they'd be helping a massive tiger shark back into her home.
Mr Hornby said yesterday's encounter was a timely reminder that big sharks would be around with turtle season in full swing.
"Just a normal day with mates going for an afternoon fish when we come across this beautiful 10ft tiger shark," he said.
"Thanks to the locals that where at Chinamens at the time to help us carefully release this amazing shark back to her home."
Mr Hornby said the majestic creature had accidentally got her tail caught in the end of the fishing line, but the fishermen made sure she was safe.
"We've been fishing these waters for years and we have the correct gear to help ensure that when we do hook a large specimen such as this one, that the team works fast to get it back in the water," he said.
Mr Hornby said over time, he and his friends had caught a few big sharks and always gave them the same good treatment.
"I normally keep my distance from them when releasing, but this big girl I got right up close and she did flail around a bit but we where able to get either side of her and push her past the breaking waves," he said.
Tiger sharks are known to inhabit the waters off the region's coastlines.
Last year, a Griffith University study found a 71 per cent decline in their numbers across the Queensland coast.
Lead author of the study, Chris Brown, said more needed to be done to protect shark species.
"Tiger sharks are top predators that have few natural enemies, so the cause of the decline is likely overfishing," he said.
"This decline is surprising, because tiger sharks are one of the most resilient large shark species. Mothers can birth up to 70 pups every three years, which means the population should be resilient to moderate levels of fishing."
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