Monster Shark Strikes Off Coast of Australia

The great white after being savaged at sea (Pic: Courier Mail)

In the early days of water exploration, sailors were fearful of falling off the edge of the world or being attacked by a giant sea monster and dragged into the waves to drown. Since that time, we have learned that the world is round not flat; and, that sea monsters do not exist…or do they?

The picture above shows a 10’ great white shark that was found thrashing around attached to a baited hook on a drum line with two massive bite wounds that removed sizeable chunks of his body. This fatally-injured shark was found off the Queensland coast.

The ill-fated shark was savaged after it got snared on the drum line – an alternative to shark nets. A drum line consists of a marker buoy (or drum) that floats on the surface of the water. The line is located a great distance from the beach. Attached to the buoy are two ropes – one rope is connected to an anchor and the other rope is connected to a baited hook. The baited hook draws the shark to the buoy rather than the beach; and, usually the shark is hooked. If not hooked, at least the shark is removed from the vicinity of the beach. The drum line in question was near North Stradbroke Island, east of Brisbane.

The wounded creature was still alive when a crew hauled it onto a boat, close to Deadman's Beach.

Experts estimate that the winner of this encounter could be up to 20’ in length. Beachgoers are reeling from the news. Any shark that can bite almost clean through a great white can easily dispense with a human.

"It certainly opened up my eyes. I mean the shark that was caught is a substantial shark in itself," Queensland Fisheries' Jeff Krause told Australia's Daily Telegraph.

An alert has been issued warning swimmers and surfers not to enter the waters near the island. Tourists at a nearby tourist resort – Surfer’s Paradise, south of Brisbane, are concerned as well.

Surfer Ashton Smith, 19, of the Gold Coast, told the Courier Mail: "I've heard about the big one lurking. Every surfer is always cautious over here."

Fisheries Minister, Tim Muherin, says there are no specific plans for finding the huge attacking shark; but, contractors have reset the drum lines

Via skynews