The sirens sounded and Kellys Beach was cleared on Saturday afternoon after a hammerhead shark was sighted near shore around 3.45pm.
The popular Bargara beach was closed to swimmers while surf lifesavers monitored the area. The beach reopened on Sunday morning.
Kylie Duncan said on Facebook she saw a “massive hammerhead” on Saturday afternoon and alerted swimmers.
Wide Bay Capricorn Branch Surf Life Saving coordinator Julie Davis said surf life savers verified the sighting.
“Yes, the life savers went out on their jet ski and confirmed it,” she said.
Julie said Queensland Surf Life Saving procedure was to close the beach for a minimum of one hour.
The sighting occurred at low tide on a busy holiday afternoon, with dozens of people asked to leave the water for their own safety.
Kellys Beach remained closed for the rest of the day.
Kellys Beach has shark control protection with drum lines (baited hooks) to minimise the possibility of shark attacks.
Drumlines catch actively feeding sharks using only fresh, natural bait attached to shark fishing hooks suspended from a large plastic float, which is anchored to the sea bed.
Fifty-eight sharks were caught on drumlines in the Bundaberg Region last year and three have been caught so far this year.
Shark smart advice
Follow these simple safety guidelines to minimise the risk of a shark attack:
- Don’t swim at dawn or dusk.
- Always swim in clear water (not in murky water, busy anchorages, estuary mouths or canals).
- Don’t throw food scraps or fish waste overboard (including in anchorages or where people are swimming).
- Don’t swim where fish are being cleaned.
- Swim, surf, snorkel or dive with a buddy.
- Follow local signage and swim between the flags at patrolled beaches.
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