great white off bondi

[Ken Gargett]

the vid claims this is off bondi. no idea if that is true - if it is, these idiots should be jailed. feeding great whites that close to one of the world's most popular beaches is insane.

[Bill Hayes]

Hmmm...sounds a bit suss. Never heard of GWS that far north on the east coast. But I'm no expert. Besides it's illegal to catch them. Either way, it's ridiculous teaching these creatures to associate food with humans and boats.

[Hunter1974]

never feed predators you might be on the menu next

[westg]

k

[Fosgate]

Are you sure they were intentionally feeding it. Looks like they had another shark they caught and had it slung by the tail to drown it.

[Ken Gargett]

had forgotten this as it was a while ago but i think perfect timing. beaches north of sydney closed for three days because of great whites and some idiots on a boat video'd themselves trying to lure and hook great whites off spencer gulf in south australia. and then posted it. and now look like they'll be charged and fined up to 10 K.

[Ken Gargett]

Hmmm...sounds a bit suss. Never heard of GWS that far north on the east coast. But I'm no expert. Besides it's illegal to catch them. Either way, it's ridiculous teaching these creatures to associate food with humans and boats.

bill, i'm told that the beaches at newcastle, way north of there, have been closed for three days because of great whites. i think that people might be surprised how far they travel.

[Ken Gargett]

Are you sure they were intentionally feeding it. Looks like they had another shark they caught and had it slung by the tail to drown it.

not sure we'll ever know but i'd doubt it. i think the aim was to tempt the white to attack. but i may be wrong.

[Fosgate]

Would be nice if they started tagging some around Australia on the global tracking to see where some are http://www.ocearch.org/

[Ken Gargett]

Would be nice if they started tagging some around Australia on the global tracking to see where some are http://www.ocearch.org/

very surprised by that as i know that there are tagging programs in place. quite extensive.

there was an extraordinary doco a few years ago where one of the tagged sharks, a three metre white, tagged off the south of west australia, traveled to south africa and back to the same area (later found to be an amazing hotspot for sealife) and then the most strange thing happened. the tag also covered depth and temperature. this fish suddenly dived very deep, about 3,000 feet, then stopped and then the temp rose. a few days later, the tag was washed up.

they researched this extensively and checked out reasons for what might have happened including giant squid and killer whales. eventually, they determined that the shark was chased into the deep and attacked and eaten by a much bigger white. hence the sudden dive, then why it was 'stationary' and then the temperature rise (which would have coincided with being ingested by the bigger fish).

[Ken Gargett]

here is a link to aussie whites tagged.

http://www.csiro.au/Outcomes/Oceans/Marine-Life/Sharks.aspx

[Ken Gargett]

Hmmm...sounds a bit suss. Never heard of GWS that far north on the east coast. But I'm no expert. Besides it's illegal to catch them. Either way, it's ridiculous teaching these creatures to associate food with humans and boats.

there you are, bill. a great white well north. scary.

Beaches closed: Five-metre great white shark the biggest Newcastle has seen

Date January 14, 2015 - 7:09PM

The shark lurks behind a lifesaver on a jet-ski on Saturday. Photo: Nicholas Tonks

All Newcastle beaches will close again on Thursday, with council lifeguards emphasising that the great white shark cruising along the coast for five days was "of a size that has not been seen before around Newcastle".

Estimates have the near fully-grown shark as being five metres long and about 1700kg, with a council spokeswoman stating authorities would like to have a 24-hour period with no sightings before beaches are again opened.

Newcastle Council aquatic services co-ordinator Peter Withers, who has served in the region for 37 years, said: "We've consistently seen the big one every day. Certainly it's the biggest shark we've ever had and it's hung around longer than any other shark," he said.

People sit on Nobbys beach on Tuesday after it was closed. Photo: Darren Pateman

Newcastle would typically get as many as five shark sightings triggering beach closures annually, a number that hasn't changed much in years, Mr Withers said – this year notwithstanding.

A late suspected sighting of the shark on Wednesday near Nobbys Head means the beaches will be closed for a record sixth consecutive day on Thursday.

Prior to that, there was a sighting by those on board a police vessel off Burwood and Merewether beaches.

A dolphin missing its tail was possibly killed by a shark. Photo: Craig Hollier

"We ask for everyone's cooperation in remaining out of the water at our beaches until lifeguards are satisfied that the shark has moved out of area waters," the council said in a statement. "Our lifeguards emphasise that this great white shark is of a size that has not been seen before around Newcastle. It appears to be nearly full grown at an estimated five metres in length which would make its weight around 1700kg.

"Sightings have been across all beaches, from Stockton to Merewether. It is not safe for board riders to be out in the water, even close to shore, as sharks are known to move into the surf zone, hunting prey between where the surf breaks and the shoreline."

The statement said council lifeguards were warning beachgoers not to go in the water, with lifeguards working extended hours to warn anyone coming for a swim after work who may not be aware of the danger.

Surfers ride the waves at Merewether despite shark warnings. Photo: Darren Pateman

They would continue to patrol the waters on jet skis throughout the day looking for the shark.

"It is unusual for a shark to stay around the same coastal areas for this many days in a row, and we would like to have at least a 24 hour period of no sightings before the beaches are reopened," the statement said.

Nobbys beach inspector Scott Hammerton was on a jet-ski investigating a shark lingering at the end of the breakwall about 2.30pm on Tuesday when water police called him to the northern end of Burwood beach. "A four-metre great white came up to the police launch, had a look at the boat, flicked its tail and went underneath it," Mr Hammerton said.

"It was right on the surface, about 50 metres behind the waves, before heading into the surf zone.

"At this point, we decided to call it off, it was not worth getting any closer."

Earlier in the morning, lifeguards spotted a large shark off Stockton breakwall and were also called to a reported sighting at Dudley.

"When the guards went down, all they could find was a sunfish but we've seen sunfish and sharks together in the past," Mr Hammerton said.

Surfer Craig Hollier, of Garden Suburb, said the seriousness of the situation hit home after he saw a dead dolphin washed on to the rocks at Leggy Point, at the southern end of Burwood beach. "It was a full dolphin except there was a section of its tail missing," he said.

"It could have been there for a day or two because you could smell it a mile away."

Mr Hollier said the dolphin had "definitely" been bitten. "People hear about the great white but they still go out – this photo shows what can happen to someone."

Mr Hollier had gone surfing between 11.30am and 2.30pm on Tuesday with his 14-year-old son, saying he had believed authorities were monitoring the risk and they were relatively safe.

"But I won't be going back to any Newcastle beaches tomorrow – I'll be heading to Catherine Hill Bay instead," he said.

The chairman of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, Cliff Marsh, said the shark was "15 foot and ... a real menace".

"It's been on patrol from Swansea to Nobbys and back again," he said.

Mr Hammerton said the city's beaches had been having one of the busiest summers in about 15 years before the first confirmed shark sighting near Merewether baths at midday on Saturday.

[Fosgate]

I have always been fascinated since I was a boy by GW's but for the life of me I cannot fathom why people would leave the safety of a cage to interact with one. I'm just waiting for this woman to become the next Timothy Treadwell (Guy that lived with grizzly bears until he and his girlfriend were eaten alive by one.)

[Ken Gargett]

I have always been fascinated since I was a boy by GW's but for the life of me I cannot fathom why people would leave the safety of a cage to interact with one. I'm just waiting for this woman to become the next Timothy Treadwell (Guy that lived with grizzly bears until he and his girlfriend were eaten alive by one.)

i could not agree more. insanity.

gets attacked and then we have to go around and kill all the sharks.

[Fosgate]

Here are a couple others I think mother nature will someday wake up and say "I don't know who or what you are but you're face looks tasty."

[Ken Gargett]

and then we have people saying they can't understand why their 8 metre python suddenly ate junior. it had always been so peaceful.

[Bill Hayes]

bill, i'm told that the beaches at newcastle, way north of there, have been closed for three days because of great whites. i think that people might be surprised how far they travel.

Yep, my ignorance on thinking that they are confined to cooler waters doesn't seem to be very valid at all. I've since seen a few more docos on the idiot box and on one they tracked a great white travelling from South Africa across to Ningaloo reef in the mid north of WA and then back again. Not much is known about them really. Some think that they also hunt large squid towards the middle of the ocean, following the toothed sperm whales I think that can locate them at depth and hunt them too. They also seem to follow the whales up the coast when they have a calf and also the tuna runs and even the run of kingfish that we get this time of year. Nonetheless they are crafty buggers.

[Ken Gargett]

Yep, my ignorance on thinking that they are confined to cooler waters doesn't seem to be very valid at all. I've since seen a few more docos on the idiot box and on one they tracked a great white travelling from South Africa across to Ningaloo reef in the mid north of WA and then back again. Not much is known about them really. Some think that they also hunt large squid towards the middle of the ocean, following the toothed sperm whales I think that can locate them at depth and hunt them too. They also seem to follow the whales up the coast when they have a calf and also the tuna runs and even the run of kingfish that we get this time of year. Nonetheless they are crafty buggers.

i remember seeing a show years ago on them and one of the very few breeding grounds that is known about is the mediterrean. surprised me. i reckon a great white in the harbour at monte carlo would surprise a few more!

[spicycorona]

I was always under the impression (ignorantly) that they were warmer water lovers. In the near 30 years of experience I have on the northeast coast of the US I haven't heard of great whites in the area. Now every year for the past few we hear of at least one every summer patrolling the coast IN MA BAY. The waters are considerably colder here than outside cape cod bay due to the gulf stream, where there are more common sightings. The reason is increased population of seals in the area. They follow the food. There was a seal attack and subsequent beach closure just recently only few miles away.

Just chillin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoudIpPZcq8

[PuroDan]

the vid claims this is off bondi. no idea if that is true - if it is, these idiots should be jailed. feeding great whites that close to one of the world's most popular beaches is insane.

Dang!!!