08-08-2025
Jaw-dropping video of shark snacking at Lake Macquarie emerges as anglers suspect numbers surge
JAW-DROPPING footage of a hammerhead shark biting bait clean off a line has emerged as anglers suspect numbers have surged at Lake Macquarie.
The footage, captured and shared by Hunter Shark Jaw Restoration, shows the hammerhead circling the bait before taking a bite and dragging it down to the murky depths of the lake.
NSW Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW recreational fishing safety officer Malcolm Poole said he believed shark numbers had grown in the lake, which was a known nursery for young hammerheads.
He not only thinks that the number of sharks is growing, but so is 'shark depredation' or 'shark bite-offs', where a shark eats or damages a fish that has been caught before it can be landed.
The phenomenon, which Mr Poole says the fishing fraternity refers to as the "grey-suited tax man", impacts both recreational and commercial fishers.
"Who wouldn't want a free feed?" he said.
"The grey-suited tax man is certainly getting his fair share out there."
Mr Poole said he suspected shark numbers had grown as a result of the lake becoming a net-free area and artificial warming due to power stations at its southern end.
"Today, Lake Macquarie is known to be a nursery for young hammerheads," he said.
"It's always been known for many, many years, and being the biggest lake in the southern hemisphere, there's bound to be a number of other secrets it holds too."
The NSW Shark Management Program does not monitor sharks in Lake Macquarie as shark mitigation in harbours, rivers and estuaries is the responsibility of the landowner, for example, councils, private entities and property owners.
A Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development spokeswoman said there was no scientific evidence to suggest an increase in shark numbers in the area.
"The SharkSmart app has recently reported catches of white sharks along ocean beaches within the Lake Macquarie LGA and in other parts of the NSW coast, consistent with the annual movement patterns for white sharks on our coast, as demonstrated by the tagging program," she said.
"Lake Macquarie is a coastal saltwater lagoon and, as such, many sharks may be present in these waters, including white, bull and tiger sharks, which are the three sharks that are most frequently involved in serious shark bites in NSW and are the focus of the NSW government's tagging and tracking and shark mitigation programs.
"Other species may include hammerheads, wobbegongs, Port Jacksons, small whalers and grey nurse sharks."
Mr Poole said anecdotally, shark sightings have increased over the years, particularly in shallow waters, and the occasional great white shark will mosey down the Swansea Channel.
"They're following food webs, such as the Australian salmon that come in from the ocean into the lake," he said.
Mr Poole said hammerheads were generally foraging fish, and there were rules and regulations around the size, number and types of sharks anglers were allowed to catch.
"There are some dedicated shark fishers out there, not so much in the estuary systems," he said.
"We do find some young teenagers test their testosterone out on sharks, heading down to the local public wharf and throwing a 150-pound string and half a mullet to try to pick up a shark and land it.
"Sharks are one of those interesting animals that are very powerful, and if you can stay on the wharf, then good luck.
"My suggestions to those young kids is grab a seat belt or a piece of rope to tie yourself down if you want to try to tackle a shark in Lake Macquarie, and be prepared to hang it out there for several hours while you play tug of war between the shark and the angler."
JAW-DROPPING footage of a hammerhead shark biting bait clean off a line has emerged as anglers suspect numbers have surged at Lake Macquarie.
The footage, captured and shared by Hunter Shark Jaw Restoration, shows the hammerhead circling the bait before taking a bite and dragging it down to the murky depths of the lake.
NSW Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW recreational fishing safety officer Malcolm Poole said he believed shark numbers had grown in the lake, which was a known nursery for young hammerheads.
He not only thinks that the number of sharks is growing, but so is 'shark depredation' or 'shark bite-offs', where a shark eats or damages a fish that has been caught before it can be landed.
The phenomenon, which Mr Poole says the fishing fraternity refers to as the "grey-suited tax man", impacts both recreational and commercial fishers.
"Who wouldn't want a free feed?" he said.
"The grey-suited tax man is certainly getting his fair share out there."
Mr Poole said he suspected shark numbers had grown as a result of the lake becoming a net-free area and artificial warming due to power stations at its southern end.
"Today, Lake Macquarie is known to be a nursery for young hammerheads," he said.
"It's always been known for many, many years, and being the biggest lake in the southern hemisphere, there's bound to be a number of other secrets it holds too."
The NSW Shark Management Program does not monitor sharks in Lake Macquarie as shark mitigation in harbours, rivers and estuaries is the responsibility of the landowner, for example, councils, private entities and property owners.
A Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development spokeswoman said there was no scientific evidence to suggest an increase in shark numbers in the area.
"The SharkSmart app has recently reported catches of white sharks along ocean beaches within the Lake Macquarie LGA and in other parts of the NSW coast, consistent with the annual movement patterns for white sharks on our coast, as demonstrated by the tagging program," she said.
"Lake Macquarie is a coastal saltwater lagoon and, as such, many sharks may be present in these waters, including white, bull and tiger sharks, which are the three sharks that are most frequently involved in serious shark bites in NSW and are the focus of the NSW government's tagging and tracking and shark mitigation programs.
"Other species may include hammerheads, wobbegongs, Port Jacksons, small whalers and grey nurse sharks."
Mr Poole said anecdotally, shark sightings have increased over the years, particularly in shallow waters, and the occasional great white shark will mosey down the Swansea Channel.
"They're following food webs, such as the Australian salmon that come in from the ocean into the lake," he said.
Mr Poole said hammerheads were generally foraging fish, and there were rules and regulations around the size, number and types of sharks anglers were allowed to catch.
"There are some dedicated shark fishers out there, not so much in the estuary systems," he said.
"We do find some young teenagers test their testosterone out on sharks, heading down to the local public wharf and throwing a 150-pound string and half a mullet to try to pick up a shark and land it.
"Sharks are one of those interesting animals that are very powerful, and if you can stay on the wharf, then good luck.
"My suggestions to those young kids is grab a seat belt or a piece of rope to tie yourself down if you want to try to tackle a shark in Lake Macquarie, and be prepared to hang it out there for several hours while you play tug of war between the shark and the angler."
JAW-DROPPING footage of a hammerhead shark biting bait clean off a line has emerged as anglers suspect numbers have surged at Lake Macquarie.
The footage, captured and shared by Hunter Shark Jaw Restoration, shows the hammerhead circling the bait before taking a bite and dragging it down to the murky depths of the lake.
NSW Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW recreational fishing safety officer Malcolm Poole said he believed shark numbers had grown in the lake, which was a known nursery for young hammerheads.
He not only thinks that the number of sharks is growing, but so is 'shark depredation' or 'shark bite-offs', where a shark eats or damages a fish that has been caught before it can be landed.
The phenomenon, which Mr Poole says the fishing fraternity refers to as the "grey-suited tax man", impacts both recreational and commercial fishers.
"Who wouldn't want a free feed?" he said.
"The grey-suited tax man is certainly getting his fair share out there."
Mr Poole said he suspected shark numbers had grown as a result of the lake becoming a net-free area and artificial warming due to power stations at its southern end.
"Today, Lake Macquarie is known to be a nursery for young hammerheads," he said.
"It's always been known for many, many years, and being the biggest lake in the southern hemisphere, there's bound to be a number of other secrets it holds too."
The NSW Shark Management Program does not monitor sharks in Lake Macquarie as shark mitigation in harbours, rivers and estuaries is the responsibility of the landowner, for example, councils, private entities and property owners.
A Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development spokeswoman said there was no scientific evidence to suggest an increase in shark numbers in the area.
"The SharkSmart app has recently reported catches of white sharks along ocean beaches within the Lake Macquarie LGA and in other parts of the NSW coast, consistent with the annual movement patterns for white sharks on our coast, as demonstrated by the tagging program," she said.
"Lake Macquarie is a coastal saltwater lagoon and, as such, many sharks may be present in these waters, including white, bull and tiger sharks, which are the three sharks that are most frequently involved in serious shark bites in NSW and are the focus of the NSW government's tagging and tracking and shark mitigation programs.
"Other species may include hammerheads, wobbegongs, Port Jacksons, small whalers and grey nurse sharks."
Mr Poole said anecdotally, shark sightings have increased over the years, particularly in shallow waters, and the occasional great white shark will mosey down the Swansea Channel.
"They're following food webs, such as the Australian salmon that come in from the ocean into the lake," he said.
Mr Poole said hammerheads were generally foraging fish, and there were rules and regulations around the size, number and types of sharks anglers were allowed to catch.
"There are some dedicated shark fishers out there, not so much in the estuary systems," he said.
"We do find some young teenagers test their testosterone out on sharks, heading down to the local public wharf and throwing a 150-pound string and half a mullet to try to pick up a shark and land it.
"Sharks are one of those interesting animals that are very powerful, and if you can stay on the wharf, then good luck.
"My suggestions to those young kids is grab a seat belt or a piece of rope to tie yourself down if you want to try to tackle a shark in Lake Macquarie, and be prepared to hang it out there for several hours while you play tug of war between the shark and the angler."
JAW-DROPPING footage of a hammerhead shark biting bait clean off a line has emerged as anglers suspect numbers have surged at Lake Macquarie.
The footage, captured and shared by Hunter Shark Jaw Restoration, shows the hammerhead circling the bait before taking a bite and dragging it down to the murky depths of the lake.
NSW Recreational Fishing Alliance of NSW recreational fishing safety officer Malcolm Poole said he believed shark numbers had grown in the lake, which was a known nursery for young hammerheads.
He not only thinks that the number of sharks is growing, but so is 'shark depredation' or 'shark bite-offs', where a shark eats or damages a fish that has been caught before it can be landed.
The phenomenon, which Mr Poole says the fishing fraternity refers to as the "grey-suited tax man", impacts both recreational and commercial fishers.
"Who wouldn't want a free feed?" he said.
"The grey-suited tax man is certainly getting his fair share out there."
Mr Poole said he suspected shark numbers had grown as a result of the lake becoming a net-free area and artificial warming due to power stations at its southern end.
"Today, Lake Macquarie is known to be a nursery for young hammerheads," he said.
"It's always been known for many, many years, and being the biggest lake in the southern hemisphere, there's bound to be a number of other secrets it holds too."
The NSW Shark Management Program does not monitor sharks in Lake Macquarie as shark mitigation in harbours, rivers and estuaries is the responsibility of the landowner, for example, councils, private entities and property owners.
A Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development spokeswoman said there was no scientific evidence to suggest an increase in shark numbers in the area.
"The SharkSmart app has recently reported catches of white sharks along ocean beaches within the Lake Macquarie LGA and in other parts of the NSW coast, consistent with the annual movement patterns for white sharks on our coast, as demonstrated by the tagging program," she said.
"Lake Macquarie is a coastal saltwater lagoon and, as such, many sharks may be present in these waters, including white, bull and tiger sharks, which are the three sharks that are most frequently involved in serious shark bites in NSW and are the focus of the NSW government's tagging and tracking and shark mitigation programs.
"Other species may include hammerheads, wobbegongs, Port Jacksons, small whalers and grey nurse sharks."
Mr Poole said anecdotally, shark sightings have increased over the years, particularly in shallow waters, and the occasional great white shark will mosey down the Swansea Channel.
"They're following food webs, such as the Australian salmon that come in from the ocean into the lake," he said.
Mr Poole said hammerheads were generally foraging fish, and there were rules and regulations around the size, number and types of sharks anglers were allowed to catch.
"There are some dedicated shark fishers out there, not so much in the estuary systems," he said.
"We do find some young teenagers test their testosterone out on sharks, heading down to the local public wharf and throwing a 150-pound string and half a mullet to try to pick up a shark and land it.
"Sharks are one of those interesting animals that are very powerful, and if you can stay on the wharf, then good luck.
"My suggestions to those young kids is grab a seat belt or a piece of rope to tie yourself down if you want to try to tackle a shark in Lake Macquarie, and be prepared to hang it out there for several hours while you play tug of war between the shark and the angler."
