13 Sharks Spotted Close To North Coast Beaches In 24 Hours

Over the weekend, aerial surveillance sweeps spotted a frenzy of shark activity off Coffs Coast, thus further encouraging our growing sleachimorpha delirium. In a 24-hour period alone, thirteen shark sightings were made from either helicopter or drone contracted to the NSW Department of Primary Industries reported the Coffs Coast Advocate.

According to experts, cooler ocean temperatures and large bait balls brought in by morning high tides are to blame for the increased aquatic movement ominously creeping closer to shore.  The sharks themselves have varied in size and species, with the smallest being a 1.6m white shark spotted off of Mullaway, and the largest being a 2.6m long great white seen cruising between Hearnes Lake Beach and Flat Top Point Headland, just south of Woolgoolga. Interestingly, all of the sightings occurred in the morning, primarily between 8 and 11am.

All sharks involved were subsequently recorded on Dorsal, Australia’s largest community-based shark alert and reporting service; which might be worth a brief scan should you be paddling out on the northern coast over the next few days. And, for everyone who did make it out this weekend, what do you think? See any extra activity out there? Have you been more hesitant hopping in murkier water? Been sleeping in a little later, conveniently missing the more active hours during dawn patrols? Or is that just the effects of the holiday weekend taking their toll?