Ballina Biteys.

[Steve_Monckton]

I went for a fish off the wall at Ballina this morning and noticed there were a lot of salmon schooling around the headlands( and I managed to hook a few, but let them go due to poor eating quality) Anyway, there were a lot of cormorants and Albatross working the baitfish and salmon schools over, which is normal, BUT as I was watching the proceedings there were about 15 to 20 Albatross diving on baitfish within 50 to 60 metres from the wall and then rising back to the surface before flying off. Suddenly there was about 4-5 metres of what looked very much like a great white shark, launch itself straight out of the water with an albatross firmly embedded in it's jaws and then disappeared back into the water. There were two smaller sharks around the 3metre mark swimming around just under the surface and these appeared to be the same big barrel shaped sharks with bright white underbelly and rounded, blunt dorsal fin. within 30 minutes I watched these three sharks demolish 3 albatross and 2 cormorants whilst fatally injuring another 4 birds which floated away with the current. These sharks had the same spectacular attack pattern of coming directly up under the birds and launching themselves out of the water. I was amazed to see such attacks on these birds as I have never witnessed seeing a shark demolish these large albatross with such aggression, or see any shark attack any bird for food. I am still trying to convince myself that these critters will be gone by summer, but I might stay inside the boat a bit more after witnessing these proceedings. cheers, steve. :o :o :-?

[Benno75]

That would have ben awesome to watch.

[stonecold]

G'day Steve,

I see in the local paper last week a story of several confirmed white shark sightings closer to Lennox. With one close in to the beach out front of the Lennox pub
Cheers Mark

[simonpp82]

Oh thats great news rabbi, South wall Ballina is one of my favourite surfing spots!!!!

[Fisher4life]

WOW :o that would have been good to see.

It's a bit of a scary thought that these predators are coming in this close to very popular beaches and surfing grounds though

[fish2eat]

nice to have a rock wall under you when you see aggression like that...... :o

[Crisp_Bee]

Scarey Stuff indeed Rabbi,
I reckon it would make me climb higher up the rocks.

[Bundy_Burp]

I would have loved to see that I think it may have been a once in a life time experience I wish you would have had a camera with you those photos would have been something to see thats for sure

Bundy 8-)

[Poodroo]

Based on the theory of evolution I am glad that I am a land dweller. ;D You were in the right place at the right time to witness such a marvel of nature. Wish I was there with you at the time.

Poodroo

[dan88]

shit thats scary! you wouldn't wana fall in. What an awsome site gotta admire those giants. 5 metres is the length of my room thats gotta be a huge shark! Hopefully the underside of a tinny doesn't look like the belly of a larger bird :D

Daniel

PS. did they scare the fish off?? surely the fish werent taking baits with the sharks circling?

[DICER]

did you bait up with birds after that? you'd need to clip the wings to get a 40 metre cast ;)

must of been very interesting!

[Tony_N]

Hey Rabbi

Yeah its a very sobering thought when you see them in action.

There's also been a great white been patrolling off Evans Head for several weeks. Jeff saw it one day under our boat and he claimed it was as long as the boat. (6m). I was a bit doubtful, but he was clearly shaken by the experience. About 3 weeks ago I got a glimpse of a whale about 30 metres from the boat. I decided it was a pup, which on reflection was a bit unusual for it to be by itself. We talked about it for a bit and it realised that as it broke the surface, there was no blow and in fact it didnt come out of the water as much as a whale might , I'm convinced now that it was the shark and it was BIG. I'm told that there have been other sightings of a giant white down there.

Solution, keep your dangly bits inside the boat.

Tony

[maxwellson]

awesome !!!. would have been great to see. nature at work. pity about the albys getting the chop though.

cheers Maxi

[Darryl]

Nothing like a good old great white to put the wind up ya.... Awsome stuff.

[jim_farrell]

Think twice before you drop your pants to do your business over the side. Don't want to go home to the misses with a love bight from one of those guys.

Sounds like watching a doco.

How often do you contemplate a swim when offshore on a hot, quiet day??????

Jim

[dan88]

How often do you contemplate a swim when offshore on a hot, quiet day??????



uhhhh never!

[chicken]

What a great experience to have

[Craigus]

WOW what a sight that would have been.
I think swimming is out of the question for a while

[DaveSue_Fishos_Two]

I would love to see that!! Something that you would never ever forget!!

Thanks for sharing

Dave

[Steve_Monckton]

G'day, Yeah it was an awesome sight. I have been out of the boat out to sea a couple of times, once to untangle my anchor rope off the prop. and once to cut off some other peoples junk off the prop, but I was prepared to walk on water if I had to. Hey simonpp82, let me know if you are going out soon and would you mind holding a 12/0 hook for me. lol. cheers, steve.

[Sean]

How often do you contemplate a swim when offshore on a hot, quiet day??????



uhhhh never!

Gotta agree.....ahhhhhhh never

[Jiggit]

fricken unbelievable