Bull sharks in the Murray/Serpentine?

Having moved to Pinjarra recently, my interest in catching a small bull shark has been rekindled. Just wondering if its worth the effort pulling a couple of all nighters on the Murray or Serpentine rivers? Every google search I've tried directs me towards the Swan river. Not after a big shark (I don't have the gear for anything too big) but just good eating size. Cheers


jighead's picture

Posts: 717

Date Joined: 03/02/12

I hope not

Thu, 2018-11-01 08:03

I don't mind the odd swim in the murray.

luke george's picture

Posts: 554

Date Joined: 13/04/07

 They're definately in there

Thu, 2018-11-01 08:29

 They're definitely in there as they're in the estuary, I've seen plenty of bream and tailor in the rivers with big bite marks. Also seen what I think was a 6-7ft bull shark crashing mullet off the surface in the serpentine.

luke george's picture

Posts: 554

Date Joined: 13/04/07

Double

Thu, 2018-11-01 08:25

collin g wood's picture

Posts: 313

Date Joined: 18/04/11

.

Thu, 2018-11-01 08:32

Definitely seen them in the estuary, don’t let the dogs swim off the back of the boat anymore, saw one jump 10m behind the boat as one of the dogs was climbing back in.

collin g wood's picture

Posts: 313

Date Joined: 18/04/11

.

Thu, 2018-11-01 08:33

Double

tadpole's picture

Posts: 387

Date Joined: 28/01/13

Would it be still too early

Thu, 2018-11-01 08:45

Would it be still too early to chase them or do they come up into rivers year round?

luke george's picture

Posts: 554

Date Joined: 13/04/07

Always a chance mate but at a

Thu, 2018-11-01 09:35

Always a chance mate but at a guess I'd say mid to late summer would be best as the salt water will have pushed right up the river

Posts: 6

Date Joined: 31/08/18

Blackwood River

Thu, 2018-11-01 18:11

Anyone heard about bull sharks in the Blackwood near Augusta? It is certainly deep enough.

Faulkner Family's picture

Posts: 17835

Date Joined: 11/03/08

 def a chance. i have seen a

Thu, 2018-11-01 21:15

 def a chance. i have seen a decent size one near the ravenswood tavern. and have heard of others being around the same area

____________________________________________________________________________

RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together

Posts: 5981

Date Joined: 17/06/10

You better believe there in the Mandurah estuary

Thu, 2018-11-01 23:46

I have seen a small (21/2 to 3 ft) one a few years back whilst chasing mullet with a net just south of the murry Serpy entrance one night when I saw my net getting all pear shaped walked out to check the net a a small bull shark was just cruising along side the net and helping it's self to the mullet in the net without a care in the world that was the end of the netting that night and a lot of hole mending was the order of the day. The next day.

If they are in the Swan and Canning you can bet your last zak they are in the Mandurah estuary system, best time to target them watch for reports coming from the swan and canning rivers.

tadpole's picture

Posts: 387

Date Joined: 28/01/13

 Am heading out to about

Fri, 2018-11-02 11:33

 Am heading out to about where you had your encounter to try and get some mullet for bait this arvo. Then myself and a mate from work are fishing sunrise and high tide in the Serpentine River near the Pinjarra Road bridge. Hopefully I have a win. Haven't got a backup plan should I not catch bait yet

luke george's picture

Posts: 554

Date Joined: 13/04/07

 Good luck, fished that

Fri, 2018-11-02 11:44

 Good luck, fished that bridge a few hours ago for bream. No luck but plenty of bait around and a bit of surface commotion 

Posts: 23

Date Joined: 01/01/70

 Defantly in the mandurah

Sun, 2018-11-04 06:11

 Defantly in the mandurah estuary so I cant see why not. I was charged by a big one a few years back, I was chasing mullet at the time I just so happened to be on the right side of the net.

tadpole's picture

Posts: 387

Date Joined: 28/01/13

Spent around 3 hours fishing

Thu, 2018-11-08 20:53

Spent around 3 hours fishing the Pinjarra Road bridge on the Serpentine RIver on Saturday morning from 5:30am without a sniff. Used mullet fillets for a while, then threw out a small live trumpeter I got on my bream gear.

Tuesday night had another go, this time in South Yunderup not far from the Murray River mouth and gave it a 4 hour go this time. But the abundance of juvenile crabs made it tough. Changed my rig to a paternoster for the last hour or so and baits seemed to last a bit longer, but still no sharks. Tried a trumpeter fillet this time as well, seemed a bit tougher against the crabs than the frozen mullet.

Any tips on what baits and rigs I should be using? Initial rig was a 1 metre 80lb fluoro leader with a large ball sinker onto a metre of 90lb coated wire trace with a 6/0 circle hook. Is that too heavy? Seemed a bit much when I'm essentially targeting a 5-10kg fish

Faulkner Family's picture

Posts: 17835

Date Joined: 11/03/08

 live mullet 

Fri, 2018-11-09 21:00

 live mullet 

____________________________________________________________________________

RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together

Posts: 5981

Date Joined: 17/06/10

2nd for live mullet

Fri, 2018-11-09 23:25

The bigger the better

Posts: 159

Date Joined: 03/12/13

Plenty in the Collie River

Sat, 2018-11-17 12:55

Plenty in the Collie River

tadpole's picture

Posts: 387

Date Joined: 28/01/13

 Thats not too far down the

Sun, 2018-11-18 06:38

 Thats not too far down the road for me, will have to plan a trip down there.