·Associate News Editor
Updated ·2-min read
A group of fishermen’s unbelievably close encounter with a large Great White shark has left other Aussies in awe. The “majestic and petrifying” moment off the coast of Port Stephens, just north of Newcastle in NSW, was captured earlier this week by harvest fisherman Jamie Culver, who described it as the “most incredible experience” he’s ever had on the ocean.
Not long after casting a line off a boat with a couple of mates, he said the Great White suddenly appeared and “swam around us for nearly an hour as we continued to fish”. Video footage posted to his Instagram — which has since gone viral — shows the large shark peacefully circling the vessel, and at times coming curiously close to the fishermen and their rods at the back of the boat.
“To be both simultaneously petrified and in awe is a rare human experience and that’s the effect this wild apex predator had on me,” Jamie said online.
“I’ve always dreamt of stumbling across one but never imagined one this size. So graceful and peaceful in one sense but also the DNA of my nightmares. Amazing to experience it with great mates and a memory I’m sure I’ll never forget.”
Aussies in awe of 'curious beauty'
Viewers couldn’t help but share their amazement over the “insane” encounter, with one person describing the shark as “a curious beauty”.
“Stuff nightmares are made off... but yet so beautiful!” another said. “Could watch this on repeat — absolutely amazing,” another agreed.
Others detailed their own run-ins with sharks, deeming it a “truly humbling” experience. “Had one of 4.5m tail me for a minute whilst surfing in South Africa, and as you say, it was one of the most beautiful and scary experiences of my life,” a man recalled.
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Why do sharks approach boats?
Speaking to Yahoo News, Dr Christopher Neff, who has spent years studying sharks and their behaviour, explained the Great White shark seen in the video was drawn to the boat’s motor.
“It’s not the fishing, they don’t have anything on the line and it doesn’t appear to look like significant bait. It’s most likely the wattage from the metal of the propeller,” he said on Friday. “Sharks are so sensitive, particularly Great White’s, they’re so sensitive that they come in and check it out.”
The animal’s behaviour is “normal”, Dr Neff added. “You often see this. It’s not about the people, they don’t know what the boat is, they don’t know what colour is, but they know it’s emitting energy and wattage.”
