Shark attack fatality - Fraser Island, Queensland

[John the Pom]

This information from Victorian Fisheries seems pretty spot on - not an aggressive species, but common around beaches and potentially dangerous to spearfishers with fresh catches:
Bronze whaler

 

[drrich2]

There is a massive amount of sharks on the Qld coast at the moment following the annual humpback whale migration.
He was reportedly spearfishing in the middle of the migration route. The below image was shot at the next headland south of the bite site a few weeks ago.
The shallow looking shark at the front appears to be a 4+ meter Great white and the rest very large whalers.
I love spear fishing but it is a risky sport and one that is not to be taken lightly.

Wonder why the sharks follow the humpback whale migration?

Sounds quite dangerous; is spear fishing there as dangerous as it sounds, or is this one of those 'tiny chance of it happening, but you hear about it when it does' things?

 

[chris kippax]

Wonder why the sharks follow the humpback whale migration?

Sounds quite dangerous; is spear fishing there as dangerous as it sounds, or is this one of those 'tiny chance of it happening, but you hear about it when it does' things?

The sharks follow the whales for food (sick/injured whales make a great feast for sharks)
Spearfishing is more risky than scuba but you can mitigate the risks, having a buddy to watch/help is a much safer way to dive.
When in the ocean you are in the food chain so there will always be some risk of injury.

 

[rabe]

When in the ocean you are in the food chain so there will always be some risk of injury.

This is the most important part.