You've croc to be kidding

A FISHO photographed wading into water, close to where a 12-year-old boy was taken by a crocodile hours later, bragged to a holidaying couple about his dangerous exploits.

Fishing in croc waters

A FISHERMAN photographed wading into water, close to where a 12-year-old boy was to be taken by a crocodile hours later, bragged to a holidaying couple about his dangerous exploits.

Fishing in croc waters

Syd and wife Alex, who asked their last name not be used, had been staying in Kakadu National Park and stopped at Magela Creek on Sunday for a spot of fishing.

They spoke to the man and took photos before returning to Darwin to hear the tragic news the boy was feared dead. READ: Tears flow after laughter stops

"I just saw the picture on the TV and I asked Syd if that's where we were," Alex said.

"He just looked at me and said, 'Yeah, that's where we were'."

"That guy had been standing in there and I had thought, 'What is he doing?' "

"Syd had said to him, 'Are you right there?' and he had said, 'Yeah,' - it was just bravado. I felt like yelling out, 'Get out of the water, you dickhead.' "

A teenager had a lucky escape from a saltie at the same spot in January last year, a fact seemingly not lost on the rogue fisherman.

"He said not to come in too far because there's a 5m saltie who lurks in this area," Syd said.

"He also said he backed his ute in to fish off, but became worried that the croc would jump in - he said a croc had been hassling him.

"He was a nice bloke to talk to, but he was showing off. There was no way I was going in there."

Syd believed the man was a local and aged about 40.

Fishing in croc waters

Croc attack boy found

Syd and Alex, who are regular visitors to the area, said it was not the first time they had witnessed people in the water.

"Not only that spot, but others, like Cahills Crossing," Alex said.

"You see them and you think, 'Oh, idiots.'

"I remember a couple years ago at the same crossing, but when it wasn't so deep, there was a family and a little baby about 18 months old just sitting in the water playing ... it's just horrifying."

Another group of fishermen was photographed on Monday standing in water at a known croc spot at Shady Camp, east of Darwin near Kakadu National Park.

Fishos at Shady camp croc danger