A Tiger shark of nearly 5 metres was caught off the coast in Coolum, Queensland. Video by Peter Hall and Glenn Barnes
A RECORD 753 "resident" sharks have been caught off Queensland beaches in the past year, new figures reveal.
The terrifying tally includes 319 predators considered dangerously large, measuring longer than 2m.
The latest monster - a 4.72m tiger shark - was reeled in near Coolum on the Sunshine Coast on Thursday as The Sunday Mail interviewed shark hunters.
The pregnant female, weighing in excess of 500kg, was the biggest caught by the local shark catcher in his five years on the job. Other species snared over the past year included great whites, bull sharks and dusky whalers.
They were caught a few hundred metres from some of the state's most popular beaches.
Shark behaviour experts say the surge in the number of sharks lured closer to shore - 53 more than 2011 and 150 more than five years ago - is linked to an abundance of food following floods in recent years.
Townsville recorded the highest number of shark catches in the state with 158, followed by Capricorn Coast on 105, Cairns (91), Mackay (69), Tannum Sands/Gladstone (67), Rainbow Beach (60) and Bundaberg (56).
A tiger shark of nearly 5 metres and more than 500kg was caught 400m off Yaroomba Beach near Coolum, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. Picture: Glen Barnes
The Sunshine Coast notched 50 catches, 28 in the dangerous category - and the Gold Coast 49 (21 over 2m in length).
The Government says the rising figures reinforce the need for the netting and drumline program initiated in 1962 following two fatal attacks at Noosa and Mackay in 1961.
They also spark a warning for those taking a dip in the warmer months - when sharks are most active - to know the rules that reduce risks.
Fisheries Queensland's Shark Control Program manager Jeff Krause said there had been only one shark fatality at a shark control beach in Queensland since the program was launched.
Mr Krause said equipment was in place near 85 beaches and the program cost around $2.3 million a year.
He said nets did not prevent sharks entering a particular area but were intended to catch "resident sharks" and those that moved through while feeding on bait fish. They were effective against aggressive bull sharks while drumlines were better for hooking tigers.
Sunshine Coast shark catcher Paddy Dimond and deckie Lachlan Tuckwell reeling in the biggest tiger shark they caught in their 5 years, measuring 4.72 meters and weighing over 500kg off Yaroomba near Coolum on a baited drum line. Picture: Glen Barnes
"The program is designed to capture large and dangerous shark species," he said. "In 2012, we caught 753 sharks in shark control equipment, including 319 over 2m. In 2011, there were 700 sharks caught, 253 of which were considered dangerous.
"Any size shark can cause serious injury if they attack, but sharks more than 2m are particularly dangerous.
"Queensland is renowned for its beautiful beaches and people come here to swim year round, so swimmer safety is the number one priority."
Shark nets have attracted controversy due to their impact on whales, dugongs, turtles and dolphins. Since 2000, 34 whales have been caught in Queensland, 31 successfully freed.
Associate Professor of Environmental Science at Bond University Daryl McPhee is an expert on the pros and cons of netting, recently completing an analysis for the West Australian Government.
He is not convinced the program offers added protection and believes funding would be better directed towards educating the public about safe swimming.
Sunshine Coast shark catcher Paddy Dimond and deckie Lachlan Tuckwell reeling in the biggest tiger shark they caught in their 5 years, measuring 4.72 meters and weighing over 500kg off Yaroomba near Coolum on a baited drum line. Picture: Glenn Barnes
"It's debatable that they are an effective tool. Most sharks are caught on the beach side of nets, which means they already have been near the beach and potential interaction with swimmers," Dr McPhee said.
"The probability of being attacked is very low, much lower than the threat of drowning."
Dr McPhee said an interesting statistic was that 90 per cent of fatal shark attacks around the world were on males.
He believed this was linked to the fact males took more risks in the water.
Shark scientist Jonathan Werry of Ocean and Coast Research is finalising a study that will show the impact of recent flood events on shark numbers in Moreton Bay and along the Gold Coast.
Dr Werry said sharks were declining globally, but indications were that a higher concentration of the predators had moved closer to shore.
"What you get with floods is more nutrients flushed out of rivers. This becomes a feeding zone for fish and there's a flow-on effect with large sharks coming in," he said.
"There are not more sharks, just more close to shore."
SHARK catchers say it's "tiger season".
Larger sharks than in previous years have moved closer to shore and feature in latest catches.
"We're having a run of tigers . . . big ones," Sunshine Coast contractor Paddy Dimond said.
"We've had more whales and when whales come in closer, so do bigger sharks.
"They bring tigers and some white pointers. Soon, when we get rain, we will see the bull sharks. There are natural fluctuations in numbers."
The Sunday Mail went on patrol with Mr Dimond on Thursday when he hooked his largest predator.
The 4.72m tiger, caught at Yaroomba near Coolum, is believed to have been the shark that had spooked surfers in recent weeks. Weighing more than 500kg, it was too heavy to be winched aboard.
Mr Dimond's previous biggest catch was a 3.9m dusky whaler near the popular Caloundra surfing break at Moffat Headland six months ago.
"We get all different species and caught a 2.5m white pointer at Maroochydore about 18 months ago," he said.
The Sunshine Coast crew oversees 11 nets and 28 drum lines between Bribie Island and Noosa.
The equipment, designed to safeguard swimmers, is positioned between 300m and 400m from shore.
Mr Dimond checks for sharks and baits hooks with mullet or shark pieces.
One of his more unusual days saw him nab two sharks on one hook.
A 1.1m shark caught at Bribie had a 1.8m specimen "stuck on the end of it" after the first creature became bait.
Dangerous sharks are destroyed, measured and have their stomach contents examined.
This has produced interesting results, including birds, whale parts, spanner crabs, other sharks and stone fish.
