North Australian FISH FINDER TM forums

Pretty gnarly old photo of a great white...


Caught off Clyde Island, Eaglehawk neck, Tasmania in 1982. (Accidental catch by fisherman)

Approx 6 meters & 2000kg.

My dad has been fishing the west coast of Tassie for 57 years, he reckons he only ever saw 1 in 50 years, which he caught in a shark net, but now sees them frequently up and down the coast.

Caught off Clyde Island, Eaglehawk neck, Tasmania in 1982. (Accidental catch by fisherman)

Helluva an accidental catch! I assume it wasn't on the whiting rod

Stormboy, what's your dad's theory ... have environmental factors changed that bring these sharks to the West Coast more often? Or just more of them around now because of the bans on killing them?

Matt Flynn wrote:

Caught off Clyde Island, Eaglehawk neck, Tasmania in 1982. (Accidental catch by fisherman)

Helluva an accidental catch! I assume it wasn't on the whiting rod

Stormboy, what's your dad's theory ... have environmental factors changed that bring these sharks to the West Coast more often? Or just more of them around now because of the bans on killing them?

I would guess the increase in aquaculture infrastructure in the area would contribute in some way?
It definately was the case when i used to work at the Nubeena lease.

Do they have aquaculture on the West Coast, other than in Macquarie Harbour?

I imagine the salmon pens in the south would attract all sorts of things! Seals, sharks, fish, birds ...

Nothing other than Macquarie Harbour Matt. The Pens are located in brackish water and the seals come in from the salt from time to time but not great whites. Plenty of seal colonies along the coast with the major one being at point hibbs.

Ive seen some photos from a mate of mine who is the skipper on one of Tassals towing vessels...
He regularly tows the pens from the west coast around the south to Dover and viceversa...
Theyve had whites following them while towing...
The sharks i guess are after the seals it attracts.

No shortage of food for them, those seal colonies are massive!