Shark numbers taking fish off Cairns and elsewhere?

[odes20]

Came in early last night with engine idling probs, but a beautiful night it would have been to stay thru.
JUST GETTING FRUSTRATED BY THE NUMBER OF SHARKS THAT SEEM TO BE EVERYWHERE I FISH OUT THERE NOWADAYS.
In the 3 hrs we got to fish the wifey and i had at least 6 nice fish gobbled by sharks with one Spangled emporer making it to the boat thanks to the kindness of the grey overcoat brigade.

Whether in 40 mtres or 50 mtres they will be there to eat your large mouth.
When we were prepping to come home i threw 2 hussar frames overboard, and here they were, 3 big whalers or the like cruising around the boat, 2-3 metres in length. This is happening in increasing frequency these last few years. Anyone else noticing this. ?? It actually looks like the same 3 we see everywhere but my marks are like up to 10 km apart, so it surely isnt just one pack. Very frustrating

[Camhawk88]

Yeah mate the tax man is equally vicious down in Townsville the past couple of years although it does vary.
I notice they also leave the shit such as Spangles and save their appetite for anything red.
Bastards of things.

[cuzzamundi]

Have you noticed more Tigers, too, or is it just the standard whalers? Have noticed far less Tigers over the years further south.

Cuzza

[Russ B]

Was fishing off Moreton Island last Saturday night in about 80 meters of water and the sharks were there as well. I know its a long way from Cairns to Brisbane but i am also noticing more sharks down this way. I wonder if they are learning to follow the fishhing boats for an easy feed

[bustaonenut]

they have become a problem for us too in the last couple of years fishing offshore mooloolaba

[Lovey80]

Yep it seems like they are multiplying at a great rate. It's rare not to see a shark in a days fishing off the sunny coast these days. Had one take a red and while halco while trolling for macs this Chrissy too.

[Red Emperor]

Yep in Darwin they are becoming atrocious, spoil a good trip away. The guys at work are saying that broome in wa is getting the same

[Meterplus]

Same story in Weipa, Gulf waters, I'm sure they know to follow the boat around. I try to save my fish cleaning until I get to an area that isn't worth fishing and dispose of frames there. It does add some excitement at times, when your reef fish comes at you faster than you can wind and almost jumps into your boat only to see the snarling jaw of a shark surface right up its clacka.

[Pazz01]

Same problem here odes out off Cairns. The last 5 years or more they have been terrible in some of our spots. One place where we get the trout there is a pack in there now and just smash everything. We used to go out there and pull 15 trout for a day and not see one shark. Now we are lucky to get one fish in the boat. The trout are there but so are the sharks.

And big whalers too.. 2-3 metres even more I think. They just go for everything red.

Not sure what the solution is. I know they follow us around out there.

Pazz

[Sevric]

Ditto to all the above at Bundy especially the artificial . Fish hard for several hours; hook up multiple times and monstered most of the time. Most times we are lucky to even get a feed out. There seems to be schools of them not just a couple of big ones.

[odes20]

Wow this is incredible! Wasnt aware so widespread! Anyone thought of successful deterrants apart from guns
Ive been told an idea or two by pros which i wouldnt repeat here

[Red Emperor]

Wow this is incredible! Wasnt aware so widespread! Anyone thought of successful deterrants apart from guns
Ive been told an idea or two by pros which i wouldnt repeat here

They shouldn't of stopped the illegal fisherman mate!!

[cuzzamundi]

Maybe the decrease in Tigers has something to do with it. Yesteryear saw plenty of Tigers with far less whalers. Now, the same spots are taken over with packs of whalers without a Tiger to be seen. Might have something to do with it. Maybe less being eaten by the bigger predators, therefore more growing into maturity.

Cuzza

[peterowen]

I fish in cairns alot and I have found shallow is normal but my reds spots are shocking for sharks over the last 2 years. Mainly whalers,

[odes20]

The only country where i dont get sharked these days is drifting in 60 - 70 m or deeper