Several sightings of a monster great white has aroused alot of local interest down here in NZ .... its been cruising the West Coast of the North Island NZ over this last week ...

Here is the link http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cf...jectID=10365759

or try from the homepage http://www.nzherald.co.nz/ and its in the top stories

But if there is access problems here is the article ---->

'Monster' shark sightings could be of same beast

28.01.06
By Stuart Dye and NZPA


A "monster" white shark in the Manukau Harbour could be the same one that has terrorised people along the Taranaki coast - but experts say it is impossible to tell.

The Department of Conservation has issued a warning to swimmers around New Plymouth after several sightings of a large great white shark. The last sighting was last Friday.

On Sunday three fishermen were forced to abandon a catch near the Manukau Heads in Auckland when they attracted the attentions of a "monster" which was longer than their 6m boat.

DoC marine scientist Clinton Duffy said it was easily possible that it was the same shark.

"With a cruising speed of four to seven km/h they move long distances pretty fast," Mr Clinton said.

But he said it was "equally possible" that there was more than one giant great white in New Zealand waters. "The average size we see here is about 3.5 metres and they are often much smaller, which implies it is one and the same, but there are sharks moving through and on the coast all the time."

In Taranaki, people fishing from a charter boat got a fright when a great white swam directly under their boat.

A few days earlier, two competitors in a yacht race off Port Taranaki watched in horror as the shark - its fin clearly out of the water - swam between their small craft.

DoC programme manager Bryan Williams said: "This makes sense, because our fur seal population has just finishing pupping - and no doubt the great white has scoffed quite a few of them."

The department has postponed a two-week dive survey programme after the sightings.

In Auckland, the three anglers had hooked a mako shark and were battling to bring it in when they realised a much bigger great white was circling. It began to nudge the boat, prompting the men to free the mako and make a swift exit.

"We've seen and caught sharks before, but never experienced or seen anything like it," fisherman Mark Lane told the Howick and Pakuranga Times newspaper. "It was a monster."

Mr Duffy said the white would have been attracted by the struggling mako.

But the rash of sightings was common during summer and not a sign of an influx of sharks, he said.

"It's a combination of them moving in to breed and eat, and many more people being out enjoying the water in the summer and spotting them.

"Every single year people say there are more sharks about, but it's complete rubbish," Mr Duffy said.

"If anything there's less because of the numbers caught in fishing."

If the fisherman's estimates are right (20'+) that's close to the record. That's a big ole shark. Quite likely a very old female as they tend to get larger than males. I hope they don't try to catch it. That's one successful fish who needs to keep propagating her genes.

I say catch the beast and turn it into sushi

I totally agree, I hope they just let it be ..... I would have been terrified to have been amongst the fisherman who caught that Mako tho, here in NZ there are heaps of Mako & they can be around 4 - 5 feet (in length) and a decent fight for an angler BUT to be reeling it in (In the comfort of a 6 meter boat) and to see something bigger than the boat youre in, to me, would be truly terrifying !!!! they said the Great White began nudging their boat so I dont blame them for cutting the line leaving the Mako & getting the hell outta there

Media would be nice, if only...

TeraLink Was Here!

awww I hope no one kills it!

I might be confusing this with another shark but aren't great whites supposed to be "nice"?

yep...Great Whites are a little "nice".....But they do mistake us for yummy seals!

I'm afraid to go out to the ocean now then again I haven't been to the ocean in like 6 years

yeah , it would be a shame if they did kill it .

yet another reason i do not get into the oceans.

I really want some pictures of this thing....hope they get a few

while I'd prefer it captured, studied, and released where it could harm noone, I'd rather see it dead than a poor idiot surfer disemboweled. just my opinion, I could be wrong.

as much as i loathe great whites, and lord knows i hate me some monster shark, i hope they let it live

killing it for the sake of temporary fame and pictures is just pathetic

It would be almost impossible for anyone to capture a great white of that size without causing the fish (or a person) serious harm. Besides, there has been only one case of a great white being successfully kept in captivity for more than 16 days. Hense the reason researchers know little about them. Anyway, here's a cool link about the great white that was kept for nearly 200 days and put on public display at the Monterey Bay Aquarium:

Link



Shark attacks are pretty rare, but thanks for being concerned for my safety. One question though. Why exactly does surfing automatically make me an idiot?

It is my understanding that when someone is killed by a crocodile in Australian wildlife refuges they don't persecute the animal because it is just doing what comes natural, and if a person is foolish enough to get "caught" in the park, it was due to their own carelessness (like swimming where were told they shouldn't). I don't know if New Zealand has such an "enlightened" policy regarding dangerous predatory creatures.

surfing doesn't make you an idiot. surfing when there is a warning about a giant monster great white in the water, that makes you an idiot

Your understanding is pretty much spot on in an ideal situation they would try and find the animal in question, trap it and relocate it to a crocodile farm to live out the rest of its life.

Most of the time the can't identify the offending animal so as you say they just leave things they way they are. Rightfully so in my opinion.

As for the shark it would be a sad day to kill one as old and with a species with such few in number world wide. Just let to do what it has always done and swim the oceans in peace

Fair enough.



Couldn't agree more.

/me hopes for some pics...

I would love to be one of the guys in the boat. The kick such a frighting eprience would give is just.. fantastic..