Queensland authorities are investigating the potential sighting of a crocodile on the Sunshine Coast, 300 kilometres south of their normal habitat.
James Graham was fishing with his friend Kai Tapley on the Noosa River on Sunday when they saw an alarming image on their boat’s sonar.
“I saw the shape come through. I had a look at it again. I said, ‘that doesn’t look right’. I had a closer look,” Tapley said.
Graham said he knew Tapley was correct after he spotted what appeared to be a three-metre crocodile.
“The moment you see it, you know it’s a croc,” Graham said.
“Then you go ‘that doesn’t make sense’. But what else could it be? It’s not a turtle. It’s not a dolphin. It’s not a mermaid. It’s a croc.
“Of course, you go ‘how is that possible?’. But that’s what we saw.”
The pair told Seven’s Sunrise that their day had started with rumours a Noosa resident had seen a crocodile. Graham was initially sceptical.
“[I thought] in the middle of winter, as far south as Noosa, that’s just ridiculous,” he said.
“Maybe they let some Victorian up here again and he spotted a stick floating down the river.
“But then I thought, ‘go fishing. Get out on the water. See what’s about’.
“When Kai pointed that out on the Garmin fish finder, I knew straight away, that’s a croc!”
The Noosa River is one of the state’s busiest waterways, and is especially popular with paddle-boarders and kayakers.
The state Department of Environment said it was investigating the sightings.
“We are aware of social media reports regarding a reported crocodile sighting today at the Noosa Spit and are investigating the matter further,” it said.
“The Boyne River near Gladstone, some 300 kilometres to the north, is commonly considered the southern boundary of typical crocodile habitat.”
However, a saltwater crocodile was euthanised by rangers after being found in the Mary River, about 50 kilometres inland from Noosa earlier this month.
Rangers also searched for a crocodile at Inskip Point, about 60 kilometres north of Noosa, earlier this year after a reported sighting. It was never found.
Graham said he hoped the crocodile left soon because fishing had suddenly “very quiet” on the river.
“We were looking at each other going ‘What’s with today? There’s no fish around’. Then the crocodile kinda comes through. It sort of explained it,” he said.
“I’m keen to get back fishing again.”
Crocodile sightings in Queensland can be reported by using the QWildlife app, completing a crocodile sighting report on the environment department website, or by calling 1300 130 372.
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