When crocodiles start attacking cars in the street and fishermen begin hooking salties, there can be little doubt that croc encounters are on the increase.
As grey nomads begin to think about heading north again, it is an issue they need to be aware of. Amateur angler Jamie Finger certainly won’t need reminding of the dangers after he snagged a 2.5m saltwater crocodile while fishing near Port Douglas.
Using 12.5kg breaking strain line and a prawn bought from a supermarket, the Weekly Times reports that Mr Finger was fishing alone about noon when a saltie struck. When his reel began spinning wildly Mr Finger initially thought he had snared a big one.
“Then this croc came up and began death rolling,” he told the Weekly Times, “At least with a shark, if you get it on land, you have some hope. But crocs have legs. They keep going.”
After a 10-minute struggle, the saltie let go. “When he went around the bridge he just spat it (the bait) out … hook, line and sinker,” Mr Finger said. “There are a lot of bait fish in this area so it was probably more effort than it was worth.”
The incident comes soon after a 2m crocodile attacked a car north of Mackay before returning to a creek of its own accord. Authorities don’t believe the reptile poses any ongoing threat.
A saltie was also removed recently from the Half Moon Bay golf course at Yorkeys Knob, north of Cairns. Rangers trapped the 2.2m creature near the clubhouse.
Course manager Greg Ferry said crocs were a common sight on the links and golfers were accustomed to them and knew not to go into the water to retrieve a ball.
Leichhardt MP, Warren Entsch, said encounters with crocs were definitely on the increase.
“There’s a strong argument for removal,” he said. “Whether it’s eggs or grown crocs, out of populated areas.”
