The whites have always traveled up and down the coast, usually following the food supply (like whales).
A few resident sharks remain in the Southern states to gobble up the local seals and porpoises, but in general they travel with the food supply.
THe Great Aussie Shark Hunter 'Vic Hislop' was telling the Australian Fisheries of the Great Whites going North to the Barrier Reef during the Humpback Whale calfing season for years.
The Fisheries didn't like Vic hunting recognized man-eaters, therefore they made the Whites protected. Their reasoning was that their surveys detected low numbers of whites in Victoria, therefore they are becoming extinct.
Years later the Fisheries department started a tagging program and low and behold, Vic was right, the whites do travel up north with their food supply, but as you may guess, the Scientists get the glory.
As for the attacks, well, my reasoning is that there are more people using the water for activities, as our population is expanding, and the new breed of people, do not understand wildlife , nor their habits.
On Fraser Island at Indian Head, I regularly saw sharks beaching themselves attempting to get the schools of mullet which threw themselves out onto the sand. All I had to do was tap my feet at the water edge, and whaler sharks to 7 feet, would stupidly think I was a mullet and beach themselves trying to get my toes. Unlike Killer whales, the sharks had a harder time trying to turn around and flip themselves back into the water, as they have a different shape tail fin than killer whales.
Another topic which I am totally against is of those who attract sharks by chumming for the tourists who in turn drop into a cage to view the shark. My theory is that predators remember that humans provide free food, hence, if the shark is a migratory species, well, that would be the reason why some poor person gets pulled overboard.
I recall a friend whom was fishing with bait for King George Whiting, he was using Pippis (tiny clams) for bait, and had no berley at all. he was having little success, therefore he decided to rinse hi hands over the stern, and a 10 foot shark raised his head out of the water as it lunged at him, it scared him silly, and luckily he didn't get bitten.
Years ago, another friend whom used to exercise her horses, by taking them for a swim whilst in the saddle, at Port Phillip Bay, at Geelong had a shark grab her horses rump , and thankfully let go without taking a chunk , once again it scared the hell out of my friend as it could have taken her instead of the horse. Thankfully the vet was able to treat the wound, as it wasn't too serious.
Doctor Ray, it may also be that the sharks are heading north due to reading your great fishing reports too. Great Whites love crayfish too.
Regards
Rob
