‘Will bite and run’: Fisherman’s dire warning after massive 200kg bull shark pulled from popular Sydney beach

A local fisherman has warned that multiple shark attacks in recent days is ‘not a wrong place, wrong time thing’, after he pulled a whopping 200kg bull shark from a popular Sydney swimming spot.
A local fisherman has warned that multiple shark attacks in recent days is ‘not a wrong place, wrong time thing’, after he pulled a whopping 200kg bull shark from a popular Sydney swimming spot.

A fisherman has taken to social media to issue a stern warning to stay out of the water after he hauled a massive bull shark from a popular swimming spot in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

Joel Nancarrow, owner of Hunter Shark Jaw Restoration, was fishing at Camp Cove in Watsons Bay on Tuesday morning when he spotted two massive bull sharks.

“I was fishing for two hours this morning and got this male bull shark around 200kg, it had a much bigger female with him but she didn’t like what she saw on the gaffs and left,” he said in a lengthy Facebook post.

Mr Nancarrow said he wanted to go to an area “where there have been multiple attacks and show how it’s not a ‘wrong place wrong time’ thing”.

“There were people swimming when I was fighting this one, was at Camp Cove next to the pink public mooring, please don’t swim off boats at the moment,” he said.

Mr Nancarrow spotted the huge shark swimming alongside a “much bigger” female.Mr Nancarrow spotted the huge shark swimming alongside a “much bigger” female. Credit: Hunter Shark Jaw Restoration/Facebook

While Mr Nancarrow says he is no expert on sharks, his fishing experience led him to believe that attacks were likely.

“When it rains enough to get the rivers flowing, a number of bull sharks leave the rivers,” he said, “so this massive down pour we had has made them leave the rivers in massive numbers in one go instead of smaller numbers over a period of months.”

He also warned that bull sharks are “opportunistic feeders” and will take any chance they can to eat.

“The next two weeks are so crucial to be super aware, they are faster and will bite and run, but the bite can easily be fatal,” he warned.

Mr Nancarrow’s insane catch comes after four separate shark incidents in NSW within 48 hours.

The first victim, 12-year-old Nico Antic, is fighting for life in hospital after he was mauled by what is believed to be a bull shark near Shark Beach in Vaucluse.

Both his legs were severely injured and he is in a critical condition in Sydney Children’s Hospital after undergoing emergency surgery on Sunday night.

Nico Antic, 12, was jumping into the water from a six-metre rock ledge at Nielsen Park, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, at about 4.20pm on Sunday when he was mauled by a suspected bull shark. Nico Antic, 12, was jumping into the water from a six-metre rock ledge at Nielsen Park, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, at about 4.20pm on Sunday when he was mauled by a suspected bull shark. Credit: GoFundMe

On Monday morning, an 11-year-old boy had a close call after his surfboard had a chunk taken out of it by a shark at Dee Why beach, just 20km from the Vaucluse attack. Thankfully the boy was unharmed.

On Monday evening, local musician Andre de Ruyter was pulled from the water at North Steyne Beach in Manly after he sustained catastrophic injuries to his lower legs. A bull shark is believed to be behind the attack.

The fourth incident happened at Point Plomer, near Port Macquarie on Tuesday morning when a surfer was bitten on his chest. The surfer, Paul Zvirzdinas, managed to paddle to shore and was taken to hospital.

Authorities warn that recent coastal weather has created conditions that attract shark activity, with the CEO of Surf Life Saving NSW, Steven Pearce calling the attacks “unprecedented”.

“The beaches are unsafe with these conditions. We’re asking people please ensure your own personal safety”, he said.

All beaches along the Northern Beaches will remain closed until further notice.