Big sharks captured
Victorian angler finds plenty from beach
A SERIES of hefty sharks landed from the beach has a visiting angler convinced of a healthy population inhabiting waters north of Cairns.
On the road to reel in big tropical water sharks, Victorian angler Karel Slant managed to snare a 3m tiger shark weighing in at about 160kg, 8km north of Palm Cove on Sunday night.
“We are trying to get nice sharks. We take a couple of pictures and quickly release them as soon as we can for the sport of it,” he said.
“I am living in Victoria and started shark fishing there. In the warmer water in Cairns the sharks grow bigger and faster so if you want to get some big ones this is the place to be.”
Last week night-time anglers landed a swag of big predators. Included in the haul were large bull sharks, the species believed to be responsible for a spate of attacks in the Whitsundays last year.
Mr Slant used a kayak to paddle a baited hook up to 70m offshore before he headed back to the beach and waited.
“It gives you a bit more of a thrill because you are paddling with the crocs and the sharks,” he said.
“You paddle back in and put the rod in the rod holder and once the reel starts screaming you know the shark is on.
“From what I am seeing every night there is not a lack of sharks.
“I get eight runs every night. That means eight big sharks take my bait every night and in Victoria I get one a night, if you’re lucky.”
The Palm Cove shark captures came as the survivor of a
Cid Harbour shark attack in the Whitsundays returned to the water in the wake of her near death experience.
Justine Barwick was the first victim in a spate of attacks which killed Melbourne medical researcher Daniel Christidis and smashed the tourism destination’s reputation to “smithereens” according to Whitsunday MP Jason Costigan.