‘Once in a lifetime’: Teenage angler hooks bull shark in Sydney Harbour

A group of teenage fishermen found a surprise at the end of their fishing line after they accidentally hooked a bull shark in Sydney Harbour. See the incredible vision.

A group of teenage fishermen found a surprise at the end of their fishing line over the weekend when they accidentally hooked a bull shark in Sydney Harbour.

In an up close encounter filmed and posted online, a group of boys are trying their luck fishing in Sydney Harbour at Kirribilli’s sea wall.
But as one yells “Right there, right there, see look at it,” a lurking shadow beneath the water reveals itself as a bull shark, swimming up to let its fin graze above the surface.

A group of teenage fishermen found a surprise at the end of their fishing line over the weekend when they accidentally hooked a bull shark in Sydney Harbour. Picture: TikTok

As the boys swear and cheer with excitement, another shark glides past, before the first thrashes through the water to snatch a salmon being used as bait.
In another video of the encounter posted online, teenager Hunter Gorrell wrestles with his rod after a friend one of the sharks took the bait and hooked itself.
The angler first attempted to reel in the bigger fish, but held on tightly as his rod bent wildly before the line snapped, sparking cries of disappointment from his friends.

The first shark was spotted by the excited boys, before another appeared. Picture: TikTok

One of the two sharks snatched a salmon cast into the water by the group. Picture: TikTok

Vision of the brief lucky catch has been shared online, with the footage getting thousands of views on video app TikTok.

Fellow teenage fisherman Christian Gouveneur, 17, was behind the camera filming Mr Gorrell, and said seeing the two “huge” bull sharks up close was a “once in a lifetime experience”.

The shark closes in on the salmon, attached to a fishing line. Picture: hunter.gorrell and christians — fishing — aus on Instagram

“I’ve been fishing for about two years, we often get some really good fish at that spot … but to get a shark was breathtaking,” Mr Gouveneur said.
“Hunter managed to hook it for a second but the knot snapped so quickly. It was massive, a proper sized bull shark, I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Mr Gouveneur said he would “definitely” be back to try and spot the sea predators again.

Humane Society International marine biologist Lawrence Chlebeck said while the sharks could have been drawn into the harbour by summer’s warmer waters, the sea creatures were longtime locals of the harbour itself.

“Bull sharks were pretty common in Sydney Harbour even before Sydney itself was developed … especially now the harbour waters are a bit cleaner,” Mr Chlebeck said.

Marine biologist Lawrence Chlebeck said bull sharks are locals to Sydney Harbour, and know a good meal when they see one.

“They’re curious sharks, not aggressive and they’re always on the lookout for an opportunistic meal, so it’s not surprising to see them hanging around where fishermen are.”

Mr Chlebeck said while bull sharks were usually solitary animals, the pair of sharks could have been drawn in by the promise of a feed.

“Blood, scales or any type of offal in the water will attract them, sharks understand these are good feeding opportunities even if shared,” he said.

“It’s probably a good reminder for people to take precautions when swimming in the harbour or anywhere where sharks are found … and especially not to swim near where anyone is fishing.”