Shark shakes up tinnie occupants ...new story 28th December 2010
Whangarei fisherman Joel Read admits his heart raced as a bronze whaler shark bigger than his tinnie swam circuits along side the boat.
And if the shark experts are right there could be more shark sitings this summer with warmer waters drawing the most feared fish in the sea closer to shore and earlier than normal.Mr Read was fishing with his 14-year-old son Moriki and 7-year-old daughter Te Waiariki at Ohawini Bay, Oakura, 50km north of Whangarei, last week when a "shadow" slipped by their 3m tinnie. They were about 50m off shore, near a rocky point. After seeing recent media reports about a shark lunging at a surfer in Tauranga, he said his heart started to race. The bronze whalerswam up and down one side of the tinny and around the back for about three minutes, less than a metre away and right on the surface.
"We were all a little bit 'panicked' to say the least, especially my daughter. But I talked the kids through it and told them that we just had to stay calm and all would be well," Mr Read said.
"You can imagine a 7-year-old less than a metre away from a shark [is] not the best place to be in the world."
Mr Read said he had put burley over to attract fish but it must have been sniffed out by the shark which eventually swam off.The Reads were able to head to shore with a nice John Dory for tea.
New Zealand's shark expert, Department of Conservation marine scientist Clinton Duffy, said sharks were probably present off most sandy coastlines, where they were looking for food or to drop their pups.
He advised: "I would say to people that if you see a shark in the water, get to the beach quickly and quietly without drawing any more attention to yourself than you already have."
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