Tragic news. RIP mate.

Horrible... condolences to his family.

Saw that post from Jeff and thought please no. Deepest condolences

Yeah, I saw Jeff's post earlier and now this. So tragic.

just no good. RIP, young man.

Thoughts with his loved ones.
A well as those of Tod, Khai,
and those living with the ridiculous loss
of champions who loved surfing in SA waters.

Condolences to family and local crew, the whole coast is rocked.

Sad news, been a ruff run for the west coast the past year or so. RIP way to young

RIP mate.

Devastating. And following the recent attacks it will really rattle the community. Sending out love to the friends, family and those who witnessed and also helped along with the greater South Oz surfing community. It's quite small and tight knit.

Sad news, R.I.P. & condolences to his family & close friends.

Appalling way to die it is... godspeed young man.

Strange how Victoria hasn't had a fatal attack since 1956'. Maybe something is attracting them to South Australian waters? Mmm..

Just heard lots of sirens here in Lennox, right as I read this again. Hopefully just a cat up a tree.

R.I.P mate

Its possible its the same shark as the last attack or even other attacks in this area .

We roll the dice in SA in that area especially , such bad luck, awful , surfed it just after the last fatal, spooked surfers everywhere, then a few weeks before this attack, 2 seals one big, hanging around the boil, dolphins and fish everywhere, big salmon still around, saw one at cunns before coming to granites, 4 out, we all went straight in after the seals came in, , really feel for the family and community, how do you recover from this one..

Shooking news so sad RIP, my condolences to family and friends.

Sad news…again…I’m sure life was better when a pro fisherman had the legal right to put a bullet in a dangerous aggressive looking shark….rather than just trying somehow to warn everyone.
The pros can tell a bad one when they see it…..I’m into marine protection but not to that level.

We know the risks here in SA as a surfer, but enough is enough. They are not endangered!! Condolences to everyone involved. RIP

I remember surfing it 40 years ago at daybreak by myself. Really good waves, but I was so thankful when the local guys came out to join me. Spooky spot to surf alone. Could never stomach surfing alone at Blackfellows, even though it was good.

Terrible news, Condolences to the family

Tragic news , just horrible.

Really sorry to hear. My thoughts go out to his family and all of the Streaky / West Coast community. Also his people on the Tweed Coast where I believe he currently lived.

That’s 4 fatal in 18 months in SA.

He was from Streaky and just moved to Lincoln recently

Sad news.
There's something about stories like this that feel like a real gut punch when you hear it. So heavy.
Thoughts with family and friends.

I wonder what Jeff observed in the sharks behaviour before he posted his warning.

Shark reporting in SA
Ring 131444, SA Police Emergency.
Posting messages on socials doesn't close beaches nor does it get to everyone that knows.
RIP mate

There's been so many over the last couple of decades its almost become normalised now, shark attacks dramatically increased after the 1992' Rio UN Earth Summit. Before 1992' it was pretty rare. Michael Docherty was the first slaughtered by the Great White shark after that Rio moment in 92'. I read an account years ago of his death that was hard to forget. Tore him to shreds and dragged his remains around the lineup by his legrope. Sorry but its a grim reality. Maybe Humans are regarded as a liability since then. An acceptable loss.

Maybe the desk jockey 'con$ervationists' can have another 'shark summit' and talk about it some more, maybe eat some cake and celebrate their many 'achievements' this last few decades.

The 3 minute mark here below is quite interesting regarding shark advocacy' value on us Humans. CONservationists that don't even use the ocean.

Brutal. RIP.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-03/sa-shark-attack-victim-named-as-l...

RIP felt so sad when I heard last night. Drove past the day beforehand coming from further afield, water felt really warm.

https://substack.com/inbox/post/154058128?publication_id=2906249&post_id...

Don't want to sound like I'm making a flippant comment, but I can't help but wonder how big this shark was to have nothing (at this stage) left to find.
If indeed it was that big, I can honestly hope that it was very quick.
Sincere condolences.

I am so very sorry to read this. As has been said, hits like a gut punch, even all the way across the world, here. Condolences and love to whole community.

So sad to hear RIP, Even in West OZ they don't "seem" to eat the entire casualty like what's become the norm in SA.
One big rouge resident shark ?
Had planned my first SA camp/surf trip for this Autumn, hope there's enough crew around to avoid chickening out on perfect solo sessions .

- Even in West OZ they don't "seem" to eat the entire casualty like what's become the norm in SA-
Around 70 % W.A. Attacks have been Fully Consumed

people can argue all they like about culling but time and time again the victims families do not advocate for it

It’s well known that prior to the current shark obsession by conversationists to fight the “primitive” “jaws” view of whites, and the related dissemination of the fake perception that whites are endangered, that surfers were much safer in SA. That’s because shark fishing was the popular sport, rather than cage diving. The reality is and it has been well documented that the cage diving industry has encouraged aggressive shark behaviour and the associated lack of predatory behaviour by us humans has seen the risk to surfers spiral out of control.
As a well known senior policeman quietly said to me once during a nasty spate of attacks, Sharks are just big fish. There’s nothing wrong with fishing them.

Its simply called FISHING. The words 'culling' and 'killing' invoke a feminine emotional and hysterical response instead of a common sense logical response. We see that elsewhere in this forum. Its a mildy clever method of hiding the truth with Logical Fallacies and such. Its infantile and pathetic. Ambiguity is the fortress of heretics.

Colin Ostle former Fisheries Officer stated in The West Australian 'newspaper' in 2015: "The Great White should never have been afforded protection" so Lance Appleby and many many more should still be here. Enjoying their new year, getting ready for work.. or school as Khai Cowley would be. Too late now.

The 'results' of shark 'conservation' this last few decades are there for all to see now. No hiding it. Their 'achievements' are dead kids.

https://hakaimagazine.com/news/nine-out-ten-shark-scientists-agree-susta...

Imagine the outcry if you threw meat on a rope at a pack of dingoes or burleighed them up with some roo mince on the beach so some paying tourists can take some photos ..Youd be publicly raped by the media then stoned to death by 10000 do gooders . But its alright with sharks ..?

I read an article from the upper west coast of the USA a few years ago and the 'journalist' stated this: "While eating lunch at the back of the boat I kept a watchful eye on the surfboard we pulling behind the boat. Chumming for Great Whites with blood or fish parts is illegal in California, so the Golden Gate Expeditions crew troll for Great Whites with a surfboard, which, according to theory, the sharks mistake for seals" The picture that accompanied the article is of that same 'journalist' with 2 halves of a nice tri-fin shattered with many big attack marks. I could post that image here but I am not sure how to upload images... can someone explain how to upload images please.

The assertions of Mr Cheese & Fred Pawle that removing protections for GWS means that specific deaths would have been avoided are absolute rubbish. No-one can possibly know if removing a few big sharks in one area would have stopped those particular attacks. Sharks travel vast distances to hunt, patrol territory & mate. Not to be flippant, but I haven’t seen any sharks walking around on land. All ocean users understand the real danger associated with entering an apex predator’s environment - presumably including all who have tragically perished. If you can’t accept the (infinitesimal) risk that you may die while surfing in the jaws of a shark, best to stay on Terra Firma.

View this post on Instagram

Awful. Sincere condolences to all who knew or loved Lance.

I surfed the spot once and felt very fortunate to have done so. One of the very rare occaisions in my surfing life I was very grateful for the company of another surfer when they joined me.

Look after each other out there everyone

Rest in peace. So heavy.

Full condolensces to the family. Very sad.
Did i hear that the Pointer was getting stuck into the craypots in the very near vicinity prior to the attack?
I'm guessing pots are laid along this stretch of coast on the calmer sea surface days when they can get in closer to the reefs. (days when surf is generally good)?
Is there also any truth to the fact one of the boats that was present at the attack site was also present at the previous fatality at the same break?
Maybe a coincidence.
And agree with above. Posting on social media is ineffective.
This should have been alerted to the authorities if it was acting so aggressively.
Not pointing the finger. Just looking at ways to avoid in future.

It would seem a good location to set some smart drum lines- at a minimum.

Provide a good living for a local contractor, give real time data on white shark populations/seasonal movements and potentially offer a deterrent effect.

I know it's not a foolproof method of reducing risk- nothing is.
But it seems better than all the alternatives, at present.

Not the time to discuss it now, all thoughts for the family and friends.

Rest in Peace.....

It's always so awful every time this happens and it's unfortunately happening a little too consistently of late. As a community we always try to come up with solutions to this problem which is great and it is needed for sure.

I do wonder if over fishing is a reason for more shark activity/encounters with humans? Surely if we are taking away a seals main food source (fish) then that would mean less seal numbers which in turn would reduce a reliable food source for GW's (outside of whale migration seasons) meaning they are more likely to look closer at other food sources?

I do agree with the shark cage theory too and the analogy of the dingoes is perfect.....

My sincere condolences to everyone affected in particular to the family and friends of Lance.

Yep condolences and empathy to family and friends. RIp mate.

My condolences to Lances family and friends. A sad day for all concerned.

RIP.

There is a lot of theories going around but the reality is we just don't know enough about these animals and their behaviours a lot of resarch needs to be done on what triggers these interactions and possible preventive measurements, There is always going to be risk but at the moment it seems the risk is elevated particulary along that coast but Ive always thought that when surfing those waters, definately warrants more research in this area. RIP Lance

Australia’s most successful, intentional shark control program has been carried out in Queensland since I believe 1964 and given the huge numbers of aggressive bull sharks, as well as a decent number of tiger and white sharks in southeast Queensland waters it is amazing there have not been more ocean fatalities, on the Gold Coast in particular. You can put that down to the success of that program which makes no bones about what it does. The drum lines are particularly effective.
Yes there has been tragic estuarine shark fatalities but those no longer now the behaviour and habits of bull sharks in such zones is common knowledge and swimmers avoid those areas. But there have been zero fatalities, I believe, except for Nick Slater (RIP). Obviously this incident happened right on the border of a state (NSW) which has a much more benign (albeit improved since 2015) shark program, so you would speculate the shark was likely moving north and had missed the nearest drum line and net. Also compare northern rivers shark fatalities and attacks since 2014 with Queensland to illustrate the point in regions with a near identical climate.
Without that program, Queensland’s tourism industry would not be what it is today.
Yes there has been in recent years a spate of attacks in tropical Queensland, I’d argue the dispersed islands where many of these occurred are harder to a manage a reliable control program. It’s also the case that the huge coastlines of SA and WA make it somewhat impractical or unreliable to do so.
But as a minimum, as FR says, a smart drum line off known or iconic surfing breaks would be a wise investment by the state.
The fact is, surfers are the primary targets of shark attacks in Australia.
I’m all up for being eco conscious and “manning up” but there is no way any parent wants to see their kid ripped in pieces in front of them.
I’m sick of people saying “it’s your choice to take the risk”. It’s not quite like that. We’re surfers, and it is a leisure/therapy lifestyle activity, you don’t just drop it, and we are the primary targets. Don’t people want to have some kind of balanced approach to this? Would you really prefer a shark lives and your son/daughter dies (both have happened)?
People obsess about sharks but they don’t seem to care about all the flora and fauna which is invisible, unseen, which could be just as important (probably more) for the eco system.
I’d like to see the evidence that white sharks in particular are some kind of essential apex predator for the health of the oceans. It’s not like if they disappear we suddenly are at risk of a “plague of seals”.
I’m not saying we kill them all. But I am saying I value human life over a sharks and popular or iconic surfing zones, where practical, should be areas where some kind of active shark management practices are permitted.
It’s a no brainer that we should be trying to limit the number of these tragedies but that doesn’t seem to be the prevailing response to this awful incident.

I live in SA and have surfed for over 45 years at many breaks in Oz and abroad. Been West quite a few times over those years but to be honest with myself I never really felt comfortable in the water there or West Oz because of the shark rep. When the waves were on you forget about it but those lulls sometimes.... These days with the packed lineups (and age) I think I'm done with over there. Although great memories and adventures. RIP.

1962 for the QLD Shark Control program.
1937 for the NSW Shark Meshing Program, now called the Shark Management Program.

Both of these are "culling" programs. That is, they work by fishing and reducing the number of sharks in the vicinity of the nets and drum lines.

I don't believe their effectiveness can be argued against by anyone who looks at the data objectively.

The problem is lethal effects apply to non-target species (bycatch).
As well, of course, to the sharks themselves.

Smart Drum lines have practically zero lethal bycatch and very low mortality for the sharks themselves.

What is the typical bycatch - species and numbers?

It varies between states, areas and methods used.

Drumlines have very low bycatch compared to nets, which have high bycatch.

Basically, anything that swims into the net gets tangled up and dies- sharks, rays, turtles, dolphins etc etc.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/538140/man-dies-in-shar...

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1994176/shark-attack-tourist-killed...

More humans have died by the hand of humans . It’s the risk we take. Rip

There was a study done in West Oz a few years ago to try to calculate the Western Pointer population which also incorporates the ones that head to SA in summer. (distinct populations separate to each other on East and West Coast, separated by Bass Straight).
They ran a heap of calculations based on empirical fishing bycatch from as far back as 1939 combined with current known data. Obviously plenty of flaws could be found but after running numerous hundreds of data set possibilities based on the above calculations, the eventual conclusion was that Pointer numbers are increasing between 2 and 6 percent per year.
Make of that what you will. Significant? Maybe, when combined with an ever growing human population using the water.
I'd post the link to the study here but it's locked behind academic walls unfortunately. Not sure why this stuff isn't put out into the public.
Also, i noted someone above, maybe @simba posed the question about it being a repeat offender, and i for one certainly subscribe to a similar theory. Thinking about the clusters of attacks over the past couple of decades....Ballina, Margs, Perth Esperance and now Streaky, it's hard not to draw conclusions that there may be one particularly aggressive pointer at each of those locations that has identified it as a place for repeated visitations.
This one really hit home. Such a heavy heart for the friends and family of Lance out there on the West coast.
Btw for anyone with access through an institution, this is the link.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304380017303447

I've managed to download a pdf of the study so i'll send it through to Stu and if anyone wants a copy he'll be able to send it through.

Condolences to Lance's family, friends and the West Coast SA community, I am so sorry to hear this news.

RIP that’s tragic and a horror way to go.
As for not far from extinction if an apex predator has been a protected species for donkeys years that BS there in declining numbers . The shark tours burlying up and cage diving couldn’t be good if sharks are looking for boats and get accustomed to it . I take my hat off to surfers down SA trying to block out white sharks to go for a paddle

I think the article below makes a salient point - if sharks were deliberately targeting surfers we'd be stuffed.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/04/as-police-search-for...

Out of Respect how about you Post this Digestion stuff Elsewhere on Site

What happened to Fanning...
A Shark Snapped his Legrope.

My 2cents worth

I’ve talked to plenty of abalone divers out of Flinders who regularly dived known shark locations on the MP and the Island, the stories they tell about 1st hand experiences with GWs are enough to keep you awake at night BUT none talk about the aggression to humans seemingly shown by the GWs in SA and WA … they do suddenly appear above or near the divers and cruise past but that’s it.

Same goes for the 1st hand experiences people I know have had surfing three well known big wave offshore reefs on the MP.

Luck? I don’t know but things that don’t sit well with me about SA especially are: that flawed business of attracting sharks to people in cages; the lack of intervention to a shark hanging around an area and this obscenely horrific thing of not finding any remains.

Personally I think sharks that hang around human structures or activities should be killed, just like feral deer, pigs, horses, rabbits, cats, rats are and the argument about endangered species doesn’t stack up when you look at our treatment of our native species generally or our dingoes in particular.

Only my opinion here …

Putting paying punters in cages and then attracting sharks that then try to eat the people in the cages, because they've been 'turned on' by the smell of fish etc., is asking for trouble in the general vicinity. A flawed (fatally for others) business model imo. But try convincing both the operators and punters of that, as crew have tried to do elsewhere, mostly, if memory serves, without success. That doesn't account for all attacks of course, but it is one factor that could be eliminated. Smart drumlines are another good idea. But also there's a lot more crew surfing these days, and the decades of protection have also likely built up the numbers of whites, certainly the 'subadut' 10-12' critters. So more potential for encounters. Better communication with warning signs at surfbreaks that can be activated via phone call by relevant authorities once warning has been given (who'd 'cry wolf' on that?) and I guess in a decade or so, self-operating AI drones that trigger the warning ... In the meantime, hoping crew stay safe. RIP Lance.

RIP young man :( Condolences to all & thoughts go out to family, friends & community

All this talk of killing sharks, is it the answer ??.. how ..the SA coastline is huge and remote , deep water just to the right of getting off and paddling back out at granites .. are we part of nature and the environment and the eco system? ? or are we from another planet, have two sons in there early twentys who both surf, and drive and go out to rave partys and get drunk at clubs.. l am far more fearful off those places than them going into the ocean , with one punch drunks, doctored party drugs, knives carried all the time, always fearful waiting for the call.. l work in a prison, l know what l fear , haven't controlled that never will,.. surfed that place a month ago, came in after 2 seals came in close to the boil, the whole crew came in, fish every where, tuna schools, salmon ,dolphins,, tragedy for the family and the community and every surfer that surfs that place and SA .

Its sad news for everyone concerned.

A survival part of our brain is hard wired for fight or flight, adrenaline & reaction; no shortage of this tool used in the media & hero movies.

Effective practical solutions require knowledge, reason, logic, wholistic understanding. There is a shortage in the media & elsewhere unless you know how to find and filter information... https://theconversation.com/au
We may have unbalanced the earths ecosystems. Most scientists have been advising Gov't of this situation on earth since reseach & studies began in the 1970's. So they retrenched the scientists, specialists in geology, soils, biology, fisheries, plants, fungi, insects, animals, etc. The specialists that didnt 'retire' had to focus on helping industry. eg. CSIRO focus on Mining, sugarcane, beef, Next Big Thing Ltd., etc The scientists jobs & budget were taken over by PR firms (media marketing) to support the Gov't & industry... sell their message to the public.
Adaptation & skills are needed.
School are now teaching collaboration, if the teachers get the opportunity, in an avalanche of Dept beaucraziness..
https://www.csiro.au/en/news/All/Articles/2024/December/Corrine-Condie-b...

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/global-extinction-risk-shar... NOAA Research Report 6th Dec 2024
We have a lot to learn
This cooperative relationship between fishermen and dolphins in central Myanmar is as intricate as it is rare and has been passed down over generations.
"My first experience was when I joined my father on a fishing trip as a kid," said U Kyi.
"When there were no boats or other noise around, the dolphins would come to us right away."
Win Hte said "community education, particularly for young people, was important despite the country's instability" (ie. Myanmar's military dictatorship).
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-29/myanmar-dolphin-fishermen-partner... ABC report 29th Dec 2024

Condolences to family and friends.

I cant believe Schmucker updated social media with a warning a few hours before this happened. That's insane. I've read a few of the old threads and this guy cops a lot of flack online thats for sure. If a positive to come out of this it's surely that fisherman warnings will be heeded and this will lower the risk.

I swore I wouldn't post on this website again but I'm half pissed I'm going to share my thoughts.

Basically the authorities must be thinking about action. It's a tourism and growth thing also.

Anyway so what about this.

Divide the coast into distinct zones. Say Yorkes, Elliston stretch, Streaky, Nong.
Four licences to kill produced. One for each area.

Licences are paid in advance via crowd
funding initiatives. Licences can only be used at certain breaks. For streaky say you can only use it at Granites. (But you can buy em from other regions).

Anyway so the licences are not cheap and paid for in advance with the proceeds going to shark preservation and research. 4 per year maximum with the goal not to use all the licences but in the event that you get an angry large shark in close vicinity to say Granites or other selected surf break and in addition you got a holiday period with a good forecast coming up.... Well you check all the boxes then the sharks got to go and Jeff cheap as possible so the proceeds go into the research and preservation etc.

Also make it a charity so tax deductable and I'll chuck in about $200. Not even from S.A. Non locals to open wallets perhaps as people from the area have dipped in for this unfortunate man's family legends.

Could be a shit idea, just spit balling.
But for sure maybe no more booting Jeff in the nuts online cunts.

My condolences to the family and friends of this beautiful human it's with deep sadness this life was taken too short. May you rest in peace Lance

I get drunk easily and perhaps shouldn't carry on like I do.
Sympathies with the family, and sorry if I've dragged the tone down there.

GWS spotted by one of the local Groms in SR’s neck of the woods this morning. Swam past and headed out to sea. Stay safe swellnutters.

And condolences to the family and friends of Lance.

Very sad and tragic news, again.

Society seems happy and willing to regulate when a dog bites a human its classed as a dangerous dog/muzzled/put down. When a dingo bites a camper on Fraser Island its “relocated”. Every snake that enters an area occupied by a human be it venomous or not is instantly relocated.
But when a shark kills a person its a case of “you enter the water at your risk or texting while driving is more dangerous” which may well be true but on balance by comparison to dogs, dingoes and snakes is hardly relevant.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/lance-appleby

Spookey... Some laws & regulations are created when society considers it is necissary to protect the majority; especially children, whom have limited knowledge or understanding.
eg. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1753-6405.12630
You have every right, in Australia, to research and present facts for public discussion, lobby for support & change laws...ATM...

14 January 2025
This is an abbreviated letter, sent today, to the Premier of South Australia.

Dear Premier,

I have been a resident of Streaky Bay for 45 years and a lifelong surfer, having spent decades surfing ‘Granites’ the wave where Lance Appleby was tragically taken by a great white shark.
I mention the above to give background to my observations regarding this tragedy. I believe there are a number of factors that play in the Great White Shark (GWS) attacks on the Western Eyre Peninsula.
1. The proximity of Australian sea lions colonies and the resulting shark populations that target the colonies. Interaction between surfers and seals and sea lions is part of the surfing experience of surfers on the Eyre Peninsula. With this comes shark incidences and make surfers a part of the food chain.
2. The unforeseen change of use of Granites via COVID through social media, particularly instagram. The protected granite rock pools and beach, with easy access via a walkway establishing by the local surfing community many years ago, makes it a non-surfing tourist hot spot, as well as a surfing location. On January 2nd there were an unprecedented number of non-surfing tourists accessing the rock pools, granite shelves and the protected beach. This was combines with a larger number of surfers than usual in the Granites surf zone due to a large swell and perfect conditions for surfing.
3. I believe the overriding reason for the great white shark attack on Mr Appleby is the proliferation of recreational cray pots just beyond the Granites surf zone. The distances the cray pots are set vary from approximately 100 metres, to the very edge of where the wave breaks. This is where the surfers congregate to ride the waves. The granite shelf creates a perfect wave that makes it a local, national and international surf destination. On the day Mr Appleby was taken a great white shark had savaged one of the the cray pots. It is the burley trail from the marine offal bag in the pots that attract sharks. The recreational cray season runs from November to May. The burley is regularly replaced resulting in a permanent amount of marine offal in the water column close to where the surfers are.
The surfers are the Main Resource User of Granites and its surrounding waters. Surfing is a major driver in the Streaky Bay economy. It has a large local population of surfers and their families that live here because of the waves that the area is famous for. Streaky Bay also attracts National and International surfers and is recognised globally as a surf destination. It is clear to the Friends of Sceale Bay that there cannot be both activities at Granites. Every cray pot represents a threat to the surfers. Surf Zones are very specific locations and need regulations to protect them. Cray fishers have an infinite range of places away from surf zones to set their pots. We would like to see appropriate recognition of significant Surf Zones away from any fishing activity that can attract GWS.
The precedent has already been set in the south west of Western Australia, where Special Purpose Zone have been created to recognise and provide for surfing as a priority use, due to its high social and economic value. This was community driven change based on shark interaction with cray pots in these surf zones (see link 1: https://www.change.org/p/hon-colin-barnett-hon-ken-baston-hon-albert-jac...) (see link 2: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https:...).
I believe that it is important to point this out to the Premier, the Minister for Environment and Natural Resources, and also the Minister for Fisheries. Before any mitigation strategies are decided, the surfing community are the ones being lost at Granites to GWS, and must be included in an conversation and decisions moving forward.

Yours sincerely,
Middy

Totally agree Middy - have surfed there a bunch of time myself. Plenty of other places for those pots!

Agreed. Seems madness to place them in that location.
Not like there's a shortage of limestone rock shelves along that whole stretch of coastline (islands included).
Great stuff Middy.

Do the commercial guys set gear there?

Does Jeff Schmucker have pots there?

Seal and Sea lion colonies follow the coast from Kangaroo Island to Head of the Bight equals permanent population of GWS tracking the pupping seasons which vary on each Island regarding Australian Sea lions. Surfers almost always surfing in sight of a colony. In regards to Granites it’s Olive Island but includes Nicholas Baudin Island and Pt. Labatt. They are always there and they are Adults not Juveniles found on the East coast which feed on the nearshore sandbar’s chasing bait fish and puts them in close to surfers.