Should they aggressively cull Sharks???

[Bates]

Looking back I guess my mates and i were quite lucky not to have encounted a large shark while spearfishing in Sydney harbour for 4 plus decades. A southerly change would see our focus shift from surfing Bondi, Tamma or Bronte to diving Sydney Harbour as from Rose Bay to South Head would be sheltered from the on shore winds making it ideal for spearfishing.

We would dive different sections. Eg Rose Bay to Nelsons Park. Nelsons Park to Bottle and Glass point. In and around Parsley Bay, Watsons Bay and Camp Cove. We're talking 100s of dives if not more than 1000 dives.

We'd also visit the jump where the young lad was attacked by a bull shark and the other jump over at Camp Cove.

I'd be curios to know how you feel especially as our catchment area is surrounded by beautiful waterways and beaches.

Is it business as usual or have you changed your approach to swimming, surfing etc?

[horrie hastings]

Looking back I guess my mates and i were quite lucky not to have encounted a large shark while spearfishing in Sydney harbour for 4 plus decades. A southerly change would see our focus shift from surfing Bondi, Tamma or Bronte to diving Sydney Harbour as from Rose Bay to South Head would be sheltered from the on shore winds making it ideal for spearfishing.

We would dive different sections. Eg Rose Bay to Nelsons Park. Nelsons Park to Bottle and Glass point. In and around Parsley Bay, Watsons Bay and Camp Cove. We're talking 100s of dives if not more than 1000 dives.

We'd also visit the jump where the young lad was attacked by a bull shark and the other jump over at Camp Cove.

I'd be curios to know how you feel especially as our catchment area is surrounded by beautiful waterways and beaches.

Is it business as usual or have you changed your approach to swimming, surfing etc?

The waterways are the sharks domain, we enter it so every time is a risk, there are times i would not go swimming especially in the harbour, after heavy rain when the water is murkier or especially around dusk. There have been a few bull shark attacks in the harbour even before this recent one, a Navy guy got mauled at Garden Island quite a few years back and lost his leg and part of his arm, then more recently the woman who jumped off her jetty at Elizabeth Bay and was attacked. Bull sharks are all through the system and often sighted up at the weir in the Parramatta river where the salt meets the fresh.

I was at Middle Head beach at Grassy Head on the mid north coast the year before last and a shark was out in the breakers cruising a long, i got a good long look it its grey body and fins a couple of times but made sure i was out of the water very quickly, i have since swum at the same spot a few times since but always a bit cautious.Will actually be up there next week.

[Andrew Walker]

NO.

[Bates]

NO.

Do you eat fish?

[horrie hastings]

Looking back I guess my mates and i were quite lucky not to have encounted a large shark while spearfishing in Sydney harbour for 4 plus decades. A southerly change would see our focus shift from surfing Bondi, Tamma or Bronte to diving Sydney Harbour as from Rose Bay to South Head would be sheltered from the on shore winds making it ideal for spearfishing.

We would dive different sections. Eg Rose Bay to Nelsons Park. Nelsons Park to Bottle and Glass point. In and around Parsley Bay, Watsons Bay and Camp Cove. We're talking 100s of dives if not more than 1000 dives.

We'd also visit the jump where the young lad was attacked by a bull shark and the other jump over at Camp Cove.

I'd be curios to know how you feel especially as our catchment area is surrounded by beautiful waterways and beaches.

Is it business as usual or have you changed your approach to swimming, surfing etc?

The fish life underneath would have been very diverse around the areas you mentioned where you went diving. If it wasn't so hard to get parking around Parsley Bay i would go fishing there, used to see a lot of big fan bellied leatherjackets around the netting there when swinning or walking around there years back.

[Bates]

If there's a Eastern Brown Snake (which are highly venomous) in the school playground do we just work around it?

[Bates]

The fish life underneath would have been very diverse around the areas you mentioned where you went diving. If it wasn't so hard to get parking around Parsley Bay i would go fishing there, used to see a lot of big fan bellied leatherjackets around the netting there when swinning or walking around there years back.

Best dive was from Nelson Park to Bottle And Glass Point.

Loads of fish and very pretty. Main species were Bream, Drummer, Luderick, Leather Jackets, Red Morwong, Tailor, Salmon. Nothing like floating in a bait ball of white bait while the Tailor are smashing them and having a feed.

[horrie hastings]

If there's a Eastern Brown Snake (which are highly venomous) in the school playground do we just work around it?

The above mentioned Middle Head beach at Grassy Head is known for the brown snakes loitering around on the bush track to the beach and also the dunes. When going to the beach at La Perouse have come across, brown, black and red bellied black snakes on the path, wise to give them a wide birth and even walking around Shelley Beach headland at Port Macquarie have come across brown snakes on the path.

[Bates]

The above mentioned Middle Head beach at Grassy Head is known for the brown snakes loitering around on the bush track to the beach and also the dunes. When going to the beach at La Perouse have come across, brown, black and red bellied black snakes on the path, wise to give them a wide birth and even walking around Shelley Beach headland at Port Macquarie have come across brown snakes on the path.

Loads of Red Bellied Snakes on the south coast.

I've stopped taking my dogs through the bush tracks as they veer off and go exploring.

[horrie hastings]

Best dive was from Nelson Park to Bottle And Glass Point.

Loads of fish and very pretty. Main species were Bream, Drummer, Luderick, Leather Jackets, Red Morwong, Tailor, Salmon. Nothing like floating in a bait ball of white bait while the Tailor are smashing them and having a feed.

Use to catch a few red morwong and banded morwong at Kirribilli when fishing for jackets.Always a welcome catch.

[horrie hastings]

Loads of Red Bellied Snakes on the south coast.

I've stopped taking my dogs through the bush tracks as they veer off and go exploring.

Even along the nearby Cooks river and Wolli Creek they advise not to let your dogs go unattended as there are plenty of red belly black snakes around there, a dog died after being bitten there about 5 years ago.

[Andrew Walker]

Do you eat fish?

I eat salmon and plenty of it

[Bates]

I eat salmon and plenty of it

Pork?

[007]

A definite no to culling sharks. The ocean is as much their home as anyone's, and they are part of the ecosystem.

The fact there were several attacks in a few days is very rare and as unfortunate as this has been, it's a chance you take.

So no, it (shark attacks) has not deterred me from entering the water and will continue to enjoy the beach for as long as I live.

[mightyrooster]

A definite no from me.