Shark Stories
Thanks AW, love your work.
Anyone know what the crew over in WA are using as shark repellent if anything. are shark eyes still popular or have i just opened up a can of worms?
Shark eyes on my sharkiest board(the one i use at the sketchiest spots) @wavie.
Probably should get them on all my boards tbh
southernraw wrote:Shark eyes on my sharkiest board(the one i use at the sketchiest spots) @wavie.
Probably should get them on all my boards tbh
I had them on all my OZ boards SR , I was mainly surfing northern rivers NSW , $25 for a bit of psychological peace of mind .
I’ve got a Sharkeyes Steamer, eyes on the back of the legs. Awesome rubber, flushes though and fills up with water. Has done from the beginning
I’ve got a Sharkeyes Steamer, eyes on the back of the legs. Awesome rubber, flushes though and fills up with water. Has done from the beginning
Bit too close to home this time.....
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-15/man-bitten-by-shark-at-port-noarl...
Wow that's the last place you would expect to get bitten. The wife and I often swim out to the southern end of the reef and do a bit of snorkeling, some unreal rockpools at that end.
My sister just got back from KI and said the whole north coast is catastrophic due to the toxic bloom.
The usually pristine Stokes Bay is covered in brown foam and green scum with death everywhere.
Penguins, pelicans, crested terns, shearwaters, leafy and weedy sea dragons, seahorses, pipe fish, rays, sharks, nudibranchs, etc. etc. etc.
Locals and tourists having to flee the coast due to coughing and itchy eyes saddened at the sight of dead and dying animals everywhere.
Thankfully the mid coast has been spared so far which is perhaps why more sharks are hanging out here.
This is the thread that I never think about !
Mark Healey interviewed by Jamie Brisick on Soundings, the surfer's journal podcast, is a good listen. Came out this week or last week maybe. Some interesting shark stories from all his spear fishing.
benskii wrote:Mark Healey interviewed by Jamie Brisick on Soundings, the surfer's journal podcast, is a good listen. Came out this week or last week maybe. Some interesting shark stories from all his spear fishing.
Cheers @benskii. Had a listen to that today while i was driving. He's a great orrator.
I've always thought the same too. There's punk arse sharks, and there's the rest. Just like dogs, humans, etc. Some are just nasty. And as for the sharks don't like the taste of humans rubbish. Haha. I don't like the taste of brussel sprouts, but my mate loves em!! For humans to assume a highly evolved and sophisticated creature that's been around much longer than us....can't have a personality? Typical.
Hows that story of the Bullsharks! That's literally a double shark attack without the actual bite. Gnarly...and lucky!
oi! didn't you have a go at me for saying some sharks may be dickheads??
Never! Pretty sure we were in agreeance!! Can't remember but i've always thought some sharks are deadset k#ntwanas. Just like humans, but way more of them!
p.s: Might have beem the subtle use of the word 'some' ;-)
Aug 2024 State Labor Govt Proposed Shark Plan
https://www.facebook.com/7NEWSTownsville/videos/new-shark-net-management...
New LNP Govt...........................................................................................................................................................
25th May 2025 -2029 ( $90m Qld Shark Management Plan )
https://www.publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/queensland-shark-control-pro...
1 SCP will operate at all times thru all seasons
2 Optimal Configuration / Location
3 Continue with Trad' Nets / Drums
4 Fed required GBR Smart Drum Trials (Only)
5 Doubling 10 Beach Drone Trial > (2025-26 = 15) ( 2026-27= 20 ) Permanent Patrols
6 Cont' Shark management / Research & Innovation ( Focus : Prevention + Risk Factors)
7 Research into Whale - Shark Net deterrent tech > best critter release MART
8 Review SMP Qld to lead management of Sharks (Impact on respective biomass) Not saying cull?
9 Refresh Shark Smart campaign to target Surfers & Spear Fishers > (Behavioural Responsibility!)
Expect Capt Nemo's Table manners > Surfs Up ~Wise Up!
Martini Mussolini wants Shark Smart to have Teeth...(Expect Premier to Trawl Gromz as shark Bait!)
No number [10] (Sorry!)
tbb has identified a few alt [10]s to Choose from...
(a) Strategies targeted at Surfers & Spear Fishers (Actual) No one is saying Bans?
(b) Adult Shark Attack > Qldurrz will Bite Back (Reads Shark Cull after each Fatal Attack!)
(c) Reduce risk by boosting investment in operations, research, trials & education. (Actual Promise!)
(d) Expanding SMP to New pop Locations (Actual) and or Gina's Whiteshoe Beach Bar Enclaves
* SCP Purpose : Rewording focuses on Safe swimming for New Beachfront Development
* Scope > Expand Drones to new Patrolled Beaches
Our Plan : SCP to reduce Attack Risk at "Specific Locations"
Not many other changes to note until...
Page 17 = (2 notable keen upgrades...possibly renewed aims!)
Action 12 Improve Forensic Shark Species Attack methodologies
Action 13 Collect Fed Govt GBR data to improve behavioural understanding
Page 18 Trials
Seems as if Govt wanna be able to defend their Old School Nets/Drums with Scientific Fact.
They intend to immerse in Local Shark Species > Hooks / baits / Array to suit season.
This is the reason for Daily Service Upgrade...they want cold hard fact to defend Nets / Drums!
By selecting optimal settings they believe they can sell harm reduction to beach goers.
Action 16 : Summarize : Implement Successful Trials into the Program (Check! Point Scoring!)
Actions 17/18/19 Basically shifts responsibility > Risk Groups to adopt SharkSmart practice.
Like SharkSmart registered a scratchy Blip a lil' while back on this beach > Too bad so sad!
Shoulda paid for the apple upgrade...too late now > Lesson for Gromz > Upgrade or Die!
Page 21 Objective ( Flow Chart ) Operations > Research > Trials > Education > Engage
Page 23 Stakeholder Initiatives ( Flow Chart ) Planning > Implementation > Evaluation
Page 24 Governance ( Flow Chart) Responsibility > Accountability > Consultation > Information
Qldurrz are happy to share New Govt > Shark Management Plan.
Extras depend on SLSQ / Rowing Oz Gina's VIP Private Club Upgrades
Extra :
Nets/Drums Beaches
GC Pacific Beach ( Nets+Drums) / Spit (Drums)
SC N. Coolum / N. Perigian (Nets+Drums) / Happy Valley (Drums)
W Bay Elliot Heads / Moore Park (Drums)
Extra
(Drones) Beaches Most are Gina's / VIP hangs.
GC Rainbow Bay / Greenmount (LNP Regional Airports Boss Hog No Fly Exemption)
N Straddie Cylinders
SC Mooloolaba
M Bay VIP Tangalooma
Bundy Elliott Heads (and / or) Moore Park
Agnes Water Main Beach
Media Response
(Presidential Style) From his Supayacht Electorate
https://www.miragenews.com/queensland-boosts-shark-control-with-historic...
https://www.nationaltribune.com.au/adding-up-the-numbers-new-queensland-...
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-25/qld-government-shark-management-n...
Fresh daily Shark News!
swellnet Qldurrz are happy to update the crew on time, every time...
Note : Spare copy sent to ...
https://www.swellnet.com/news/swellnet-dispatch/2023/09/13/long-read-the...
Commentary is pretty good and some classic responses in the comments .
A few interesting stories on shark attacks and near misses on the Shark Shield report so I thought I would start this thread. Don't want to trivialize the subject as people have had their lives taken or changed forever by what can happen. I thought it might serve as an educational purpose by hearing others experiences so we may all learn from them and hopefully avoid it happening to us.
One of them was a mate of mine named Hazey.
He had been surfing at Castles, a notoriously sharky wave in the bay at Cactus.
Several hundred metres offshore the wave breaks before reforming into Inside Castles making a long left with several sections. The wave has been the scene of several attacks and near misses over the years including the local known as "Sharkbait" who had been attacked more than once.
Gerry Lopez is another who came very close to being attacked out there and vowed to never surf Cactus again after his near miss.
Well Hazey was surfing out the back with another bloke named Steve when out of the blue he was launched into the air still on his board by a huge force from below.
A shark had rammed him with a direct hit straight up into the air! In a moment it was gone but soon returned to the stunned Hazey and started biting him and his board. Hazey instinctively put his arms out to protect himself but both his arms ended up in its mouth. As the jaws closed down his arms could have easily been severed, but several teeth on the sharks lower jaw had become dislodged and imbedded in the board leaving his upper arms with massive injuries, but the vital inner arms where major arteries run were not majorly damaged. This probably saved his life.
By this time Steve had reacted and in a rush of adrenalin and pure ballsy courage he threw himself onto the sharks back and started gouging at the sharks eyeballs, eventually feeling one pop and the shark departed.
Steve got the two surfboards together and got himself and Hazey on and started the long paddle to shore.
Then they were both thrown into the air as the shark rammed them a third time before disappearing again. They continued to make their way closer to shore and the shark nudged them again. Steve told me he thought he really must of pissed it off when he popped its eye.
Finally they we're just a metre from shore when the shark made its fifth and final appearance. It beelined towards them and the shore while they stood in waist deep water with their boards. The sharks mouth was just rapidly opening and closing like one of those wind up sets of false teeth. The boys separated and put their hands on either side of it's body and held it on a 90 degree angle to the beach as they made the final steps to the safety of the sand.
Hazey was rushed to Ceduna hospital and then flown to Adelaide for micro surgery on his shredded arms.
Steve ended up receiving a bravery award and they both sold their story to 60 minutes and made $50,000 each out of it!
It was quite a story!