Sunshine Coast and Noosa beaches close as sharks feed on bait balls

“Unusual” bait balls close to shore provide beachgoers with a close look at sharks’ feeding frenzies as several Sunshine Coast and Noosa beaches close. Watch the video.

Three Sunshine Coast beaches were closed at the weekend as massive bait balls formed close to shore and brought up to 35 sharks at a time with them.

Coolum Beach shut about 9am on Saturday, March 18, and remained closed for most of the day, while Alexandra Headland shut in the afternoon and Noosa was opening and closing intermittently throughout the day as the bait ball moved.

Bait balls form when small fish attempt to swim together to detract larger predators.

Sunshine Coast lifesaving services co-ordinator Shane Urban said bathing safety was always a number one priority for the lifesavers and lifeguards on patrol.

“It was so hot and it’s always interesting to make those calls when people want to be in the water,” he said.

Lifesavers closed Coolum Beach on March 18 as a big bait ball came in close to shore and brought about 35 sharks with it. Picture: Letea Cavander

Mr Urban said most people complied with the directions to get out of the water.

There were reports of up to 35 sharks, mostly reef sharks, feeding on the bait ball at Coolum Beach, which was only a few metres from the shore opposite the Coolum Beach Surf Lifesaving Club.

Lifesavers on jet skis kept a close eye on a bait ball that attracted about 35 sharks close to the shore at Coolum Beach. Picture: Letea Cavander

A 1m-plus bull shark was also reportedly stuck in the nets.

At Alexandra Headland, a 3m bull shark was reportedly close by.

Melbourne visitor Anita Bowcock said she approached the lifesavers when she could not see the red and yellow flags at Coolum Beach and they warned her about the bait ball and the sharks that came with it.

“It’s just one of those phenomenons that happens every now and again,” she said.

Lifesavers kept a close eye on a bait ball at Coolum Beach on March 18. Picture: Letea Cavander

“So we’re just putting our feet in.”

Another beachgoer Shaun O’Malley posted a video of what he said was up to 30 small reef sharks feeding at Noosa Main Beach.

Mr Urban said he had spoken to a few of the “long-time” lifesavers and lifeguards at Coolum Beach and while it was not unusual to have the bait balls form at this time of year, it was unusual for them to be so close to shore.

He said the drone surveillance program the lifesavers were running in partnership with the state government had been invaluable in spotting sharks early and also opening beaches more quickly.

“It allows the maximum amount of beach open time and the maximum amount of beach safety,” he said.

He said there were a number of beaches still closed on Sunday, March 19.