Top tips for catching sharks

SAFETY ADVICE FOR SHARK ANGLERS

Shark fishing is a popular recreational activity in some parts of South East Queensland. However, anglers must remember that sharks are dangerous predators and that fishing for sharks is extremely risky.

Anglers who target sharks must act responsibly to minimise the risk to themselves and safeguard the safety of local residents, swimmers and other users of the waterways.

At the same time, there appears to be a lot of sharks about. In fact, this week a Sunshine Coast council met to consider spending $60,000 to relocate big bull sharks from the Twin Waters housing estate canals adjoining the Maroochy River.

The Gold Coast canals are also littered with sharks, as are the waterways around The Tweed. Queensland's beaches are popular shark-fishing grounds after dark, while offshore anglers in FNQ are plagued by all manner of sharks to the point some places are virtually unfishable.

CORRECT SHARK HANDLING TECHNIQUES
If you catch a shark larger than 1.5 metres, set it free by cutting off the trace/line.

If you catch a shark smaller than 1.5 metres, handle it with a wet towel, where possible keeping hands, feet and body well clear of the shark's mouth.

Anglers and bystanders should always stand well behind the animal's pectoral fins, and where possible behind the tail fin. Restrain the animal with one hand on top and behind the first dorsal fin, with the other hand on top and behind the second dorsal fin. Keeping hands behind the dorsal fins stops the hands from sliding forward towards the shark's mouth when it thrashes.

Be gentle - do not squash the shark's internal organs. Return the animal to the water as soon as possible.

Avoid removing hooks unless preparations have been made in advance. Never remove hooks by hand. Use bolt cutters to remove the barb from the hook, and use pliers or other hook-removing devices to remove the hook.

Use rapidly degrading hooks.

PROTECTED SHARKS
The following sharks are protected throughout Queensland and should be handled using the above techniques. These sharks are prohibited from being in anyone's possession without a permit:
>> Great white shark
>> Grey nurse shark
>> Narrow sawfish
>> Dwarf sawfish
>> Freshwater sawfish
>> Green sawfish
>> Speartooth shark
>> NOTE: The NSW government has passed legislation to protect the great and scalloped hammerhead sharks in NSW waters

Make sure you have the most up-to-date rules and regulations for recreational fishing, including shark catch. More on protected species in Queensland at www.daf.qld.gov.au/fisheries/species-identification/protected-species.