Hammerheads would swim so close they’d set off shark alarms

The distinctive predators were a common sight off city beaches, but have, mysteriously, now become a rarity says Al McGlashan

A smooth hammerhead caught close to a Sydney beach is carefully released. Picture: Al McGlashan

A shark fin materialised. It sliced through the surface cutting a path directly toward the boat. It could well have been a scene straight out of Jaws, but as the shark made a beeline to us there was fascination not fear as it casually cruised past.

This experience used to be common off Sydney and right along the NSW coastline at this time of year, and the sharks responsible — hammerheads — would be seen from many miles out to just behind the breaking waves of our beaches.

Despite a fearsome reputation hammerheads are shy and here one turns away from Al’s camera. Picture: Al McGlashan

But now it’s becoming a rarity. Of the nine species of hammerheads in the world, three are found in NSW: The Great, Scalloped and Smooth Hammerhead. The Great and Scalloped are already classed as endangered, but stocks of the Smooth are apparently okay, despite the disturbing lack of sightings.

In all my years offshore I have rarely ever seen a Great Hammerhead, and couldn’t even tell you if I have seen a Scalloped, as they are harder to identify. But Smooth Hammerheads? They used to be prolific — seeing multiple hammers finning on the surface was almost guaranteed Some days you’d see upwards of a dozen cruising about. I suspect they were the main culprit for setting off the shark alarms on the beaches too, thanks to their habit of finning on the surface close to shore, despite the fact they are not actually dangerous to humans.

NSW fishos rarely keep a hammerhead to eat and here another one is returned to the water after being caught from a small boat close to shore. Picture: Al McGlashan

That was then, but in recent years they have all but vanished from our waters.

The Great and Scalloped classification means you can’t keep or even possess them, but

regulations allow you to keep one smooth hammerhead per day. This is really odd, because

identifying the different the species is no easy chore. The distinguishing features are very

subtle especially on smaller models.

I have never kept a hammerhead and only ever released them if I hook one. It’s the same

right across the recreational sector, where it is very rare for anyone to ever retain a

hammerhead. Commercially they aren’t targeted so we should really just protect all

species of hammerhead. However this still poses the question, what is the cause of the

decline? The shark nets have played a role in their demise — because of their habit of swimming so close to shore — but what else is contributing?

Once a common sight: a finning hammerhead off a Sydney beach. This scene is an increasing rarity these days. Picture: Al McGlashan

As I keep saying we need to spend less on marine park lockouts and more on actual research

so we can look after our marine life. Despite their supposed fearsome reputation, hammerheads are incredibly shy and hard to catch. I have tried to jump in with them and film them underwater on a number of occasions but have failed dismally. Every time the sharks deliberately detoured around me like have serious BO!

You can have a bit of fun sight fishing for them on top but the hard part is getting them to eat. The best time to chase them is in the mornings while its calm before the nor’easters kick in. The sharks will be up on the surface sunning themselves so once you spot them get around

in front of them and then pitch a bait in front of them. Of course always use circle hooks and

tag them so you can help with research and conservation in one.

Al’s hammerhead tips