Expert warns on shark in Gold Coast canals
EVERY canal on the Gold Coast is likely to get a visit from at least one shark this summer according to a leading shark researcher.
Beaches & Fishing
Don't miss out on the headlines from Beaches & Fishing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
GOLD Coast canals are likely to be teeming with hundreds of sharks, according to a leading researcher.
Bond University biologist Dr Daryl McPhee believes such is the number swimming in the city’s 400km network of waterways, every canal on the Coast is likely to get a visit from at least one shark this summer.
He is planning a bull shark survey next summer to investigate claims by local fishermen that the city’s 400km network of canals are “infested” with sharks.
Melbourne builder Nick Dinatale claimed to have caught five large bull sharks this week from his holiday home on the Nerang River at Broadbeach.
Mr Dinatale said his latest and greatest catch was a 1.5m bull shark he landed at about 6pm on Thursday.
The 37-year-old said he wrestled with the creature for more than 45 minutes before he managed to haul it up onto his pontoon.
“I was using live bait that I caught from the pontoon, all it cost me was a packet of prawns,” he said.
“I’ve caught five this week from a metre to about one and a half, that one was the biggest.”
Mr Dinatale’s catch came just days after another fisherman, Heath Simmons, also caught a 1.5m bull shark. Mr Simmons landed his catch at Burleigh Lake.
Both fishermen returned their catches to the water after posing for photos.
Dr McPhee said summer is peak season for bull sharks feeding in deep holes in the canals, where some have even been known to attack ducks and swans.
EARLIER: BULL SHARKED HOOKED IN CANAL
“They’ll eat birds, it’s not their preferred food though,” he said.
Dr McPhee, who works closely with leading shark fishermen, said the sport has exploded in popularity with young anglers searching for the thrill of catching a potential man-eater.
“In every canal there could be a shark swimming, I would estimate there are hundreds,” he said.
“These ranges from small to quite sizeable animals – a 1.5m shark is a good fish.
“Fishing for sharks is extremely popular and really starting to grow.”
