Large grey nurse shark photographed at North Haven near Port Macquarie

A man has shared details of his close encounter with a large shark near a Mid-North Coast wharf that was “so close I could have touched it”.

A man has shared details of his encounter with a large shark near a Mid-North Coast wharf that was “so close I could have touched it”.

Jacob Asquith was shocked when he saw a shark swimming around the boat ramp near the tennis courts at Laurieton.

He has lived in the area most of his life and hadn’t heard the stories of the “friendly sharks” of the Camden Haven.

“I personally haven’t seen them before, that’s why I was a bit shocked to see it so close and what prompted me to share the photo,” Mr Asquith said.

Jacob Asquith took this photo of a shark swimming near the boat ramp at North Haven near Port Macquarie.

A NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) spokesperson confirmed the shark in his photo was a grey nurse which is critically endangered but relatively common in this area of the Camden Haven.

On some occasions groups of up to 20 people gather at the breakwall area, south of Port Macquarie, to watch the sharks being fed by fishermen – and increasingly by onlookers.

Some locals have expressed concerns at the growing popularity of the sharks.

One of the family of “friendly sharks” locals come to watch at North Haven, near Port Macquarie pictured in June 2023. Picture: Erin Wise

Allissa Gillies from nearby Lake Cathie said it was only a matter of time until something went horribly wrong.

“Some brazen teen trying to impress their friends might get too close – I can see it happening,” she said.

“As they keep drawing a larger crowd it’s only going to be a matter of time until we get some bad eggs in it.”

The razor sharp teeth of grey nurse shark.

The grey nurse sharks’ curious nature has earnt them the title of the “labrador of the sea” and they are considered relatively harmless compared to bull sharks or the great white.

But Mr Asquith isn’t taking any chances saying he will think twice about swimming in the river from now on.

“Yes it does make me think twice, just because they are the ‘puppy dogs of the ocean’ it doesn’t mean puppy dogs don’t bite when aggravated,” he said.

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