Estuary sharks?

 Was crabbing in the Madurah estuary the other week with my wife and 2 dogs on board, between runs we were throwing the dogs fave toy into the water for her to fetch n swim back to the boat, just as I was about to throw the toy once more I noticed a large surge in the water and then saw a shark jump out of the water not more than 20 meters behind the boat, at first I was unsure then my wife said " did you see that" 100/sure it was a shark, checked out pics on the net of bull sharks and pretty certain that's what it was, no more swims for me or dogs in the Madurah estuary.


Faulkner Family's picture

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 close call. dogs get chomped

Mon, 2012-02-20 23:49

 close call. dogs get chomped often by sharks, you just never hear about it. 

only last week someone was asking about sharks in the estuary. now they know

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RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together

Faulkner Family's picture

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Date Joined: 11/03/08

 more importantly. did you

Mon, 2012-02-20 23:50

 more importantly. did you get a feed of crabs

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RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together

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estuary sharks

Tue, 2012-02-21 00:04

I made enquiries about shark sightings in the estuary as I had an experiance last wednesday whilst netting mullet for bait in the estuary and i have been a bit wary about disclosing it for feeling I might be ridiculed and told i have been suffering delusional experiances. Whilst cleaning my net I came accross 3 yellow eye mullet that had been bitten of cleanly just behind the gills, now it is quite common for sting rays to take mullet out of the net but in general they leave a long section of skin and what remains looks like they have squashed the flesh out of the fish leaving whole heads and skin were the body of the fish should be. What ever took the mullet had very sharp teeth as I was watching the net and there was no great swirl or splashing at the net and no there wasn't a dophin around either. Going on the size of the mullet I have discounted a large tailoras it would have to of been the grand daddy of all tailor to take a mullet so big without creating a disterbance at the net which I would have sewen as I cleaned the net before darkness. 

sambo24's picture

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Date Joined: 03/05/11

I know somebody that is

Tue, 2012-02-21 08:15

I know somebody that is an ex-commercial fisho from the estuary, and they've assured me that theres big bullies in there

So you arent going crazy!

carnarvonite's picture

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Cormorants / shags

Tue, 2012-02-21 09:12

Cormorants and shags do take fish from a net in the way you describe and more often its the prize fish like Kg  and yellowfin whiting. If a shark has a bite there is usually a hole left in the net, no finesse in their eating habits.

Have seen sharks up towards Belvedere in the estuary down in Bunbury and thats right to the top plus up pased Collie bridge in the river.

Goodz's picture

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Date Joined: 20/07/09

There would surely be a few

Tue, 2012-02-21 07:26

There would surely be a few bull sharks in the estuary, surprised not more are seen.
Scooping down there one night we can across a big fat whiting that had been bitten in half and was floating along still alive. Could have been a big tailor though I spos.
There's sharks in any large mass of water, shouldn't stop you from jumping in there and enjoying it. Chances of being attacked are still far less than crashing your car on the way home.

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Wes F's picture

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Date Joined: 07/01/12

ABC Story

Tue, 2012-02-21 09:34

It definiatly confirms the amount of shark activity in our water ways with little conflict with human interaction.

I've heard a few sightings of Bull sharks in the mandurah estuary over the years.

A bit like the supposed mud crabs no actual footage.

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 Old fishermen never die they just smell that way.