4 meter Tigershark menaces two spearfishermen
(Broomfield Reef, offshore Yeppoon, QLD Australia)

Daniel, Deon and I went for two day spearfishing trip to Broomfield Reef. This beautiful reef is about 35 km from North-West Island and 130 km offshore Yeppoon.
We had shot the usual suspects and attracted a 4 meter Tiger with our Coral Trout and Mackerel..
I got some lovely underwater videos from this massive Tigershark. It had the top part of its tail fin missing and a very distinct bent back fin.
Tigers have the habit - fortunately for us spearfishermen - to circle around us in a wide berth, just at the edge of visibility.
As big as they are, in my opinion Tigers are the most wary (or careful Sharks) before they "move in for the kill"..
This gives us normally time to make it back to the boat. I finished my underwater video from this massive Tiger and we changed our location.
I assumed if we move a km away (or perhaps a bit more), the Tiger would be gone.
Daniel and Deon were drifting now at the NE ledge of Broomfield Reef in 25 -30 meter of water. I was the "boatman" and stayed 70 - 100 meter away from them - but watching them at all times.
We raise the end of the gun out of the water if we have shot a fish or want to be picked up for any reason (if you are cold, have cramps or have Sharks around ).
Daniel had a Spanish Mackerel for berley with him. He had berleyed pats of it and then I saw the raised guns out of the water.
I heard at this moment yelling but I couldn't make out (engine noise and wind) what is was. I thought that they must have shot a large fish like a Dog Tooth Tuna or Green Jobfish or something like that.
I couldn't have been more wrong!
Daniel and Deon were not yelling in joy, they were rather screaming. I pulled up with my boat right next to Daniel and it was here as I saw the SAME massive Tiger with the bent fin on the surface.
My sons got into the boat with no incident.
Daniel's story freaked me out: " The Tiger came out of the Blue. Suddenly it was right next to us on the surface. The Tiger Shark swum very fast right towards my face. I got at the last moment my gun in between myself and the jaws of the Tiger. I had dropped my Mackerel - hoping that the Tiger would go after it. But it came for us!"
We were yelling and screaming for the boat while swimming backwards and pushing off the Tiger. It just kept coming at us!"
I asked my kids: "How on earth is it possible that you didn't see this massive 4 meter Tiger Shark in 25 meter visibility?"
My kids were only looking down into the berley trail. They were so occupied with it that neither Daniel or Deon looked 360 degrees around.,
Lessons learned:
1) While changing my spot after we had initially seen the Tiger was the right idea, the distance of a bit more than 1km away was too short.
2) Plenty of berley will attract Sharks. We had a few drifts before and created a large berley stream. It would have been only a question of time that ANY Shark would zoom in and not only the big Tiger.
3) Always look 360 degrees around you! Don't just look into the berley stream or to the bottom.
4) Always watch the fellow spearfishermen when you are the boatman. If a large Tiger has made up its mind and swims straight at you - time is not on your side! Fortunately for my kids, I saw their guns immediately and moved over although I didn't realize at this moment why the guns were raised out of the water.
5) Deon and especially Daniel were extremely lucky and I am grateful that nothing happened to them.

Enjoy the video,
Stay safe out there & Happy Hunting!

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