Another shark has been caught on camera cruising the waters of Lake Macquarie. The hammerhead shark was spotted near Mannering Park on Monday.
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Shane Lee from Toukley captured the footage which he uploaded to Facebook. He had unknowingly set the video to public, instead of privately sharing it with his friends, and was shocked when he saw it had gone viral online.
It has been watched more than 75,000 times and shared by hundreds of people.
“It just went mad,” Mr Lee said.
He has enjoyed the fascination with the video, despite it being ‘just a hammerhead shark’.
“I am on the lake a lot and you don’t see sharks all that often,” the keen boater said.
“I have probably seen three sharks in 15 years.
“Usually you would expect it to be a white pointer or a bull shark. That’s the funny thing, it’s the only shark I have been able to identify and it was a hammerhead.
“I was actually disappointed.”
He said the shark was about two metres in length and was just ‘cruising around’. With a bit of careful steering, a phone handy and a bit of luck, he managed to get close enough to hit record.
“Everybody has always been fascinated with the sharks in the lake,” he said.
“I wouldn’t worry about getting bit by one though.
“You would have to be pretty unlucky.”
SHARKS IN THE LAKE
This is not the first time a shark has been spotted in the lake. Some believe the end of commercial fishing in 2002 is the reason for increased shark sightings. Others say improved management of the lake is a big factor.
Shark sightings in Lake Macquarie go back a long way, take a look.
RECENT SIGHTINGS
Bull sharks were sighted in Swansea Channel in February. Local man Daniel Poka couldn’t wait to dip his feet in the refreshing waters off Blacksmiths when his fiancee Samantha drew his attention to the three sharks swimming towards the rocks. Take a look.
The previous February was also a busy time for shark activity in the lake. A large shark roiling in the water was caught on camera as unsuspecting boaters pass the creature. Watch the video here.
But its it always great white shark sightings that are of the most interest to Lake Macquarie locals. A Rathmines fisherman captured close-up footage of a great white shark he estimated was more than three metres long as it swam around his boat off Wangi Wangi in December. Watch the video here.
Have you got video of shark activity in the lake? Let us know. Email jessica.brown@fairfaxmedia.com.au