A terrifying close encounter with a monster white shark hasn't deterred Matthew Smith from casting a line from his kayak again.
The 23-year-old Novocastrian had been fishing for about 90 minutes off Black Head headland when the predator cruised up to his kayak.
Mr Smith was fishing for snapper with his brother, Stewart, when the curious shark glided alongside him.
"I saw the shark when it first got close and watched it circle and look at me," he said.
At the same time, his mate, Nick O'Brien was on land, helplessly capturing the unfolding encounter with a drone.
"Nick was not able to alert me of the shark, although there was no need as I could very clearly see the shark."
But, when Mr Smith shouted for help, his brother paddled straight over: "I thought it might be scared off if there were two of us."
Mr Smith admitted to being initially scared of the shark, but was soon confident it would not attack.
"Most great white encounters involve the shark checking people out and then losing interest.
"However, when the shark swam towards the back of me just before it disappeared I did think it might have an exploratory bite, which, from a big shark can do some damage.
"So that is when I thought I might be in some real danger."
It was Mr Smith's first close encounter with a shark since he began fishing offshore in a kayak 18 months ago.
He's seen plenty of sharks from the safety of the shore, and said his only other experience had been when sharks had taken his catches as he fished in a tinny.
"The majority of the sharks I have seen have been in that area; a healthy marine ecosystem must also have a healthy population of sharks."
After the heart-pumping encounter, Mr Smith said he'd take a few weeks' break from the kayak and borrow his dad's 4.4m tinny.
Jeanene Duncan
Jeanene has more than 40 years experience as a regional and rural journalist starting at The Land Newspaper. She also worked for Stock Journal Newspaper (SA), McPherson, Fairfax newspapers and Rural Press, and contributed to various magazines.
Jeanene has more than 40 years experience as a regional and rural journalist starting at The Land Newspaper. She also worked for Stock Journal Newspaper (SA), McPherson, Fairfax newspapers and Rural Press, and contributed to various magazines.
