Sydney rivers experiencing a spike in shark sightings

Sydney anglers are confronting more sharks than ever across our river systems and there’s a warning those encounters will spike as our waters heat up.

Sydney anglers are encountering more sharks than ever across our river systems.

Four separate shark sightings were reported within a matter of hours in the Port Hacking River in south Sydney last Tuesday.

A shark up to 3.5m long was spotted swimming near the Lilli Pilli Baths, a 3m bull shark swam under a kayak as far west as Grays Point, another was spotted just off the boat ramp at Yowie Bay and a jetskier had a shark dart past his watercraft at Salmon Haul Bay.

Only days later anglers captured on video the moment a large thresher shark breached the ocean surface after being hooked in Sydney Harbour.

Veteran fisherman Al McGlashan said shark encounters would spike as our waters heated up.

Expert fishermen from LENSRD captured the moment a large Thresher shark breached the ocean surface after being hooked in Sydney over the weekend.

“The water has warmed up so there is a lot of marlin hanging around across the front sea, which is drawing in good numbers of hammerheads,” he said.

“Whaler sharks will thin on the surface a little bit but the main ones you’ll see up on top are your whites, makos and hammerheads.”

This experienced angler got more than what he bargained for when he hooked a Thresher shark. Picture: Tik Tok

The gurus from Drone Shark App spotted two hammerheads cruising in waters just off Bondi Beach last month, but Mr McGlashan said bull sharks were the most commonly sighted in river systems.

“The bulls will start to turn up, you see them more often in January,” he said. “Water users just need to be aware when swimming.”

Two Hammerhead sharks were spotted by the gurus from Drone Shark App near Bondi Beach in December. Picture: Instagram

Experienced fishermen from Taren Point bait shop Fergo’s Tackle World said bull sharks could travel several kilometres inland.

“We see them regularly in the Port Hacking,” he said.

“One of our employees, who is a kayak paddler, has seen them up as far as North West Arm, there’s plenty of bulls around as well as hammerheads and whalers.

A shark swallows angler’s bait near Sydney. Pictur: Supplied

“There is a definite issue with them but until someone gets taken in a river system, nothing will happen.”

Sydney spearfisherman Tyson Josic was bitten on the hand by a wobbegong on the south coast on Christmas Eve; fortunately the species isn’t known to inflict significant damage.

Agriculture Minister Dugald Saunders said the NSW government was not pulling any punches when it came to preventing attacks after the state endured record amounts of rain.

Al McGlashan says shark numbers are up along the Sydney Coast and in the harbour. Picture: David Swift

“The large amount of rainfall we saw in 2022 brought more nutrient run-off into our waterways which attracted fish and therefore sharks to feed off them,” he said.

“Despite the significant measures we have in place as part of the NSW Government’s Shark Management Program, we also continue to encourage beach goers to be sensible this summer.”

The shark management program received an $86 million boost which will be invested in new and conventional technology used across our coastline over the next four years, this includes the deployment of rapid response vessels.

“The NSW Government has 50 drones deployed along the state’s coastline, which means we have eyes in the sky to spot sharks and respond quickly, providing an additional layer of protection for swimmers,” he said.

“These Rapid Response Vessels will be strategically located along the NSW coast to provide rapid assistance to first responders in the event of a shark incident at our beaches.”