3.8m tiger shark caught off popular Townsville region swimming beach

THE monster of the deep was caught off one of our most popular swimming beaches.

ALMOST 80 dangerous sharks were caught on drumlines off the coast of Townsville last year but they weren’t the only animals hooked.

A total of 77 “target species” sharks were caught in waters off Townsville in 2017, according to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, including tiger, bull whaler and great hammerhead sharks. The predators were caught as part of the State Government’s Shark Control Program, which uses drumlines off the coast to reduce the threat of attacks on humans.

Drumlines are installed at Alma Bay, Florence Bay, Horseshoe Bay, The Strand, Nelly Bay, Pallarenda Beach, Picnic Bay and Radical Bay. The largest hooked was a 3.8m tiger shark at Alma Bay in March, while the smallest was a 0.8m tiger shark in May.

By comparison, a total of 110 sharks were caught off Townsville in 2016, with the largest a 4m tiger shark off Radical Bay on July 17.

A DAF spokeswoman said shark control equipment was serviced every second day, weather permitting, by independent contractors who work under the supervision of the Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol.

“Target species relates to sharks that are deemed to be too dangerous and are humanely killed,” she said.

“By-catch refers to non-dangerous sharks, turtles or dolphins which are caught in the equipment and are released alive where possible.”

A total of 38 bycatch animals were caught off Townsville last year including a green turtle, scalloped hammerhead and catfish, with only nine able to be released alive.

Surf Life Saving Queensland Townsville lifeguard supervisor Russell Blanchard said the last beach closure was mid last year at The Strand as a result of a large shark chasing stingrays close to shore.

“We don’t get a lot of closures … but we do get sightings from members of the public and when we are out on jet skis at times,” he said. “We haven’t seen anything to indicate they are any more or less sharks than previous years.”

Mr Blanchard said Cleveland Bay was a known tiger shark breeding ground and it was likely sharks had come to shore undetected.

“There have probably been times when sharks do creep in undetected because the water is fairly dirty,” he said.

“But we know sharks don’t actively hunt humans and the fact we haven’t had an attack in so long (means) drumlines do appear to be an effective barrier.”

Mission Beach spearfisherman Glenn Dickson was mauled by a shark near Port Hinchinbrook on February 17 last year, sustaining major injuries that led to having a leg amputated. In October, Jack Tolley, 7, lost a chunk of flesh, 73mm in diameter, from his calf after being bitten by a cookie cutter shark at Alma Bay.

Originally published as 3.8m tiger shark caught off popular Townsville region swimming beach