Veteran fisherman Al McGlashan explains why Sydney has more sharks than ever

A veteran fisherman has declared there are now more sharks circling off the Sydney coastline than ever before. See the video.

There are more sharks off Sydney’s coastline now than there has ever been in veteran fisherman Al McGlashan’s 30 years of angling in the area.

“It’s ridiculous – you just catch them one after the other,” the 48-year-old said on Thursday as he took The Daily Telegraph out on his boat in search of monsters of the deep.

“I’ve caught more sharks this year than all the years combined.”

And it is not hard to see how McGlashan, who is also an underwater photographer, has grown to form this view.

Audi Croft, 50, a fellow experienced fisho and McGlashan’s partner, cast her rod at Long Reef off Dee Why and within minutes a menacing bronze whaler had hooked the line.

The whaler was quickly released unharmed.

Hammerheads also circled the boat while hunting down smaller fish such as frigate mackerel, slimies and tuna.

The 2m Bronze Whaler caught off Long Reef. Picture: David Swift

Professional fisherman Al McGlashan with his partner Audi Croft. Picture: David Swift

The spotlight has been thrust upon sharks around Sydney after diving instructor Simon Nellist, 35, was tragically killed by a great white in Little Bay last week.

McGlashan said great white hot spots in Sydney include the entire stretch of Long Reef and also Blue Nose Point, which is near North Head.

Great white sharks are seen in September, October and sometimes November.

They are not normally seen around this time of year due to warmer water temperatures.

McGlashan said great whites were rare to see and can turn up in odd spots.

Bull sharks are also common in Sydney Harbour around Sydney Harbour Bridge, while whaler sharks mingle around the headlands and also Long Reef.

Large numbers of bait — meaning smaller fish — are funnelled under the bridge as it is a narrow point in the harbour, attracting sharks looking for a feed.

Professional fisherman Al McGlashan said shark numbers were up along the coast and in the harbour. Picture: David Swift

The bronze whaler in the water. Picture: David Swift

Mahi the Kelpie on the lookout for sharks. Picture: David Swift

The spike in shark numbers outside Sydney’s heads could be something to do with the temperature of the water, according to McGlashan.

“You’ve got really hot water this year, it‘s 24-25 degrees, normally that’s offshore in the current, this year it’s right up against the coastline … maybe that, coupled with all this rain, has just made it perfect for them,” he said.

McGlashan, who moved from Melbourne to Sydney purely for the fishing, said the coastline was “whaler central” at the moment.

Bronze whalers are known to have attacked humans.

Long Reef is like takeaway shop for sharks as it is teeming with smaller species such as yakka, kingfish and bonito.

A shark taking the bait off fisherman Al McGlashan.

Al McGlashan with another bait stealer, a whale shark. Picture: Cooper McGlashan.

Another shark pulled in off Sydney.

“Long Reef is a hot spot because it’s a ledge that drops off, a wall they call it — Long Reef wall,” McGlashan said.

“You get a little bit of upwelling when the swells there, so the bait all stacks up on it, then your medium predators like your kingys and bonitos stack up and then of course you get your bigger fish, the ultimate predators, sharks, and even occasionally marlin.

“It drops down to around 35m, so in some areas it’s quite steep.”

McGlashan said in previous years it was rare to catch a bronze whaler in the area.

“We never go there (to Long Reef) and catch those, normally you catch one a year … but at the moment, it’s every trip, you’re like that – you just drag your bait around and there you go, you’re on,” McGlashan said.