August 26th 2024.
Two avid fishermen were lucky enough to capture a once-in-a-lifetime moment off the Sunshine Coast when a massive great white shark approached their boat. Joe Cook and Jayden Grace were out on the water when they spotted the five-meter shark circling their boat near Mooloolaba on a sunny Saturday. Despite the initial shock, the two remained calm and continued fishing for snapper between Caloundra and Mooloolaba while the shark stayed close by.
According to Grace, the shark stayed with them for about half an hour to an hour, keeping a watchful eye on their fishing activities. "It was a bit nerve-wracking at first, but it was also pretty incredible," he shared with 9News. The encounter, which happened around midday, was captured on video and has since gone viral.
Grace and Cook had a feeling they weren't alone on the water and their intuition was proven right when they spotted the great white shark approaching their boat. "I quickly threw the GoPro in the water and held it out, and the shark must have seen it and swam straight towards it," Grace explained. "It's definitely going to be a great story to tell."
The footage shows the shark swimming peacefully with a school of fish before attempting to take a bite out of the boat. Fortunately, the vessel was too sturdy for the shark's teeth to penetrate, leaving only a few scratches and scuff marks. "There it is!" Cook exclaimed in the video, while Grace added, "Holy, that is huge!" The two were in awe of the massive creature and couldn't believe what was happening right in front of them.
After the shark's failed attempt at snacking on their boat, Cook and Grace decided it was probably time to call it a day and head back to shore. "It just bit my boat, it just bit my boat," Grace can be heard saying on the video, before jokingly adding, "I think it's time to leave." Despite the adrenaline-filled experience, the two were grateful to have witnessed such a majestic animal up close.
Upon reviewing the footage, Cook noticed that the great white had a swollen belly, indicating that she was possibly pregnant. "She really wasn't aggressive at all, apart from the obvious curious nibble," Cook shared on social media. "I was more worried about how she would react when we hooked the cobia." Overall, the two described the encounter as "absolutely incredible" and the "best experience" they've had on the Sunshine Coast.
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