River Monsters (2009–2017): Season 2, Episode 7 - Hidden Predator - full transcript
Jeremy Wade goes to South Africa to catch a bull shark in a freshwater river where they have now made their home.
The bull shark is
the bad boy of the shark world,
thought to be responsible
for more attacks on people
than any other shark.
Their ferocity
is the stuff of nightmares.
Pound for pound, they are
the ultimate killer shark.
Last year, I traveled
to Queensland, Australia,
to investigate three potential
bull shark attacks...
the first in the surf zone
at the mouth of a river...
the second on a man swimming
at night in an inland lagoon...
the third on a thoroughbred
racehorse 80 miles upstream.
At exactly the same time
I was there,
the biggest bull shark
ever caught
was pulled out
of a South African river
popular with swimmers.
Upon hearing this,
I instantly feared
another deadly situation.
My name is Jeremy Wade,
biologist and extreme fisherman.
I travel the world,
investigating stories
of freshwater monsters.
That's the killer blow.
That's about the thickness
of my leg.
This feels a good-size fish.
I'm heading to South Africa
to find out why sharks
are leaving their patch
and moving into mine.
That's the fish...
Dorsal and tail.
Dorsal and tail.
January 2009...
A series of unusual sightings
in the Breede River,
South Africa,
kick-starts an investigation.
What the scientists discover
shocks both the scientific
and the local communities.
For not only is this river
inhabited by sharks,
it is home to the biggest
bull shark ever caught
anywhere in the world.
Measuring 13 feet in length,
it is more than 3 feet longer
than the previous record.
A year later, the team is back
to see if they can discover
why it was here,
why it was so big,
and if that giant was alone.
This is where I come in.
I'm just as puzzled
as the scientists
by what's going on here.
And my many years' experience
of tracking down
and catching monster fish
from rivers
have got me
the unique opportunity
to join the investigation.
What we find out
could help to answer
the most important question
of all...
Is the presence
of this known man-eater
a human tragedy
just waiting to happen?
I'm more accustomed
to searching for monsters
in rivers that tumble
from mountain passes...
or investigating tribal
myths in tropical jungles...
places very remote
from our modern world.
So this is going to be
very different
from anything I've done before.
This is the sleepy
fishing village of Witsand
in a remote corner
of South Africa...
Not the place I would normally
hunt for a river monster.
However, under the surface
of this peaceful scene
lurks a monster bigger
and more aggressive
than anything
I have ever encountered.
But how can a saltwater shark
survive in freshwater?
It is said that for most sharks,
spending a day in freshwater
would be like a man walking on
the moon without a space suit.
But bull sharks are different.
They have sensors
all over their body
which sample the salt content
of the water,
working in a way
similar to our taste buds.
A special organ
called the rectal gland
acts like an on-off switch,
releasing or retaining salt
as required.
It's their ability to move
from shallow coastal waters,
where they normally live,
up into rivers
that makes them one of the most
dangerous of all sharks.
Wait!
I've investigated fatal attacks
in Australian rivers,
but bull sharks
have also attacked
in the Ganges in India,
the Tigris in Iran,
in Lake Nicaragua,
and even in the U.S.,
in New Jersey's Matawan Creek.
And now one has been found
here, in the Breede River...
only this one
was much, much bigger...
swimming undetected
where people swim.
Perhaps freshwater rivers are
no safer than the open sea.
So far, I only have a few photos
and newspaper clippings
to go on,
so I meet up with
shark scientist Meaghen McCord,
who brings me right up to date.
What exactly happened last year?
We were here
for three days, fishing.
On the third day, we were
up in the area up there
that's commonly known
as Hunpunt.
Meaghen led
last year's expedition
which caught the bull shark,
known further up the coast
as the Zambezi shark.
McCORD: Suddenly, around 3:00
in the afternoon,
our angler had his fish taken.
And about 2 1/2 hours later,
we managed to see that it
actually was a Zambezi shark.
What are you hoping to find out
this year?
This year, Jeremy, first of all,
we want to find out
whether that shark was just
a once-off in the system.
We're really counting on you
to catch us another animal.
Normally I head out
on my expeditions
to unpick a riddle
and satisfy my own curiosity.
But this time,
I have a scientific team
depending on me,
and the results could mean
the difference
between life and death.
This is the biggest fishing
challenge I have ever faced.
And if I connect
with one of these sharks,
it could be the biggest fish
I have ever hooked.
It's only now that I realize
what I've gotten into.
The sharks in this river have
a very specific way of feeding.
And that has actually given me
quite a challenge
in terms of what rig I use
because I've got to come up
with something
that presents the bait actually
in quite a delicate way,
but at the same time
is strong enough
to give me half a chance
to get the shark in.
And to be honest, at the moment,
I'm not quite sure
how I'm going to achieve that.
Sharks have evolved
the greatest sensitivity
to electricity of any animal.
Tiny pores around the snout
called the ampullae of Lorenzini
detect minute electrical fields
produced by other animals
in the water.
But they could also detect
electrical microcurrents
produced by my metal hook
and leader,
which is going to make bait
presentation very difficult.
I'm basically just looking
at what else I've got in my bag.
I've got various different types
of wire.
I've got smaller hooks.
Yeah, I think I'm just gonna
have to play around with stuff
for a few hours and just see
what I can come up with.
What I'm thinking of using
is something like this.
The trouble with these sharks
here is if you fish too heavy,
they're just not gonna take
the bait.
The bait isn't going to act
naturally.
So hopefully something like that
is gonna work.
It's hard to believe
that once I've caught
a potential man-eater,
the scientists will release it
back into the river,
like putting a fox
back into the chicken coop.
It's no surprise that this
project is so controversial.
With my rig built, I team up
with skipper Mark Wolf.
He has years of experience
fishing the Breede River.
His knowledge will be invaluable
if I'm to catch myself
a big shark.
We head to the spot
where the team caught
the monster last year.
To catch sharks
in the Breede River,
you first need live bait.
This feels good bait size.
Very strong.
Oh, there it is.
I only use live bait
if I have to,
and this is
one of those occasions.
The sharks in this river
will eat nothing else.
That's why they're called
a grunter.
You can hear
that noise it makes.
I'm hoping the grunter
struggling on the line
will have caught the attention
of a shark.
I transfer it to my heavier gear
and get it straight back
into the river.
It's actually
a very strongly swimming bait.
It's about 30, 40 yards
off there.
And that's right off the line.
It came in on one hook,
straight onto another one,
and out into the water.
It's possible
if there's shark in the area,
they actually checked that out
on the way in,
and they could well be
sort of lurking around,
eyeing that up.
I'm using a balloon rather
than a conventional float,
attached by a thin rubber band.
This allows the bait
to swim freely in midwater.
But when a shark takes,
the balloon will break away,
so the shark won't feel
any resistance,
which could make it drop
the bait.
I will then begin a count of 20.
I have to know that the shark
has properly taken the bait
so that when I tighten up,
my circle hook will pull
into the corner of its mouth.
I may only get one chance,
and I don't want to blow it.
Just a case now of waiting.
On the surface, this place
is an earthly paradise,
in sharp contrast
to the picture underwater,
where there lurks a beast that
is the embodiment of savagery.
Has the shark taken that, or is
that the bait just running?
That's not shooting out
at speed.
Ah, yes, yes, yes, yes.
There we go.
One, two, three...
From the moment
the bait's taken,
the speed of the run tells me
this has to be a shark.
Anchor up. Anchor up, please.
Anchor up.
And nothing else in this river
could engulf a bait that size.
11, 12...
Now I must keep a cool head
and wait for a count of 20
before I engage the reel.
18, 19.
Right.
Tightening up. Tightening up.
Tightening up. Tightening up.
There's the balloon
heading for the horizon.
Here we go.
Even with my harness
absorbing a lot of the strain,
this is like nothing
I've ever hooked before.
Oh, this sling's in the way.
A little bit
of an obstacle course.
This fish just feels
so powerful.
Without even really trying,
it's just taking line.
I've chased big fish
all over the world,
and experience tells me
that this could be
the biggest I've hooked...
More than capable
of dragging me overboard
if I make a wrong move.
Looks like it might come up.
Yes!
Just saw a fin
break the surface.
Coming to the left now.
This is quite a fast fish.
It's quite lively, which is good
'cause it means
it's tiring itself out.
Looks like a take on the line.
Coming up. Coming up.
Coming up.
There it is.
I think I could be ready.
Oh!
I think they might have...
What happened?
That shark felt as big
as anything I've ever caught.
What went?
But I'll never know for certain.
Yeah. It went.
That's actually...
That's bitten through the wire.
Bitten through the wire.
So that's a bite-off.
Ah.
Ah.
Score one to the fish.
I was overconfident.
I thought
I was bringing the shark in,
but now I realize the shark
was bringing the fight to me.
I could see it was large,
but it was not the
1,000-pounder caught last year,
which means there's more than
one shark using this river.
And that's a concern
to everyone living here.
I hate losing fish.
You're always haunted
by the memory of the big one
that got away.
But it did tell me something.
It suggests that there could be
a lot more shark in here
than anyone suspected.
Last year,
the team courted controversy.
After catching
the 1,000-pound bull shark
from this South African river,
they ran a series of tests,
attached an electronic tag,
and then released it
back into the river.
So you got the tag in.
What did you find out from that
tag in the time you were here?
We really had no idea
what to expect from the shark.
Over the course of the next
370 hours that we tracked her,
she moved up and down the river
to within feet of people
who were pumping for prawns
and in shallow water that was
probably just up to mid-thigh.
And how far up
did you track her?
McCORD: We tracked her as far
as 32 kilometers upriver,
which we thought was really
amazing, and, needless to say,
it sort of freaked out
the local Witsand residents.
Many of the human residents
were less than happy
that the world's biggest
bull shark had been released
and was again swimming freely
in their river.
But this wasn't
the only bull shark
that made the headlines
that week.
Experienced lifeguard
Sikhanyiso Bangilizwe
was keeping watch
over a stretch of beach
along the Natal shore.
He went out on a training swim
on a route he had swum
many times before.
The unprovoked attack
came out of the blue.
Bangilizwe
didn't stand a chance.
Close inspection of the wounds
on Bangilizwe's body
confirmed that it was
a bull shark
that attacked and killed him.
Even though this attack happened
600 miles up the coast,
it still helped
to stoke the anger
in Witsand's
riverside community.
Some residents were
understandably concerned
that the world's
biggest bull shark
had been put back
into their river,
and Meaghen had
some explaining to do.
She even received
serious threats
for her part
in releasing the shark.
It's still hard to believe
that after I catch one,
the scientists will require me
to release it
back into the river,
where people fish and play.
Oh. Oh.
One, two, three...
I've been given a second chance.
Anchor up, please.
Anchor up.
And I'm not going to
let this one get away.
Tightening up. Tightening up.
Tightening up. Tightening up.
Okay. Right. We're on. We're on.
We're on. We're on.
And it's running.
It's running.
It's running.
Look at that.
It's really cutting sideways.
Really cutting sideways.
Oh.
That was really heart-stopping
when it suddenly goes slack.
You think it's off, and then
there's tension there again.
It's probably kicking
or rolling on the line, even.
This apex predator
is not accustomed
to this kind of treatment.
There he is.
Instead of running away,
it's coming in to check me out.
I can't imagine what the shark
is making of this experience.
He's coming down.
With a lot of fish,
you see them up on the surface,
you see them close in,
you think, "That's it.
They're nearly done there."
I think this one was just coming
up partly out of curiosity...
"What's all this?
What's happening?"
Now he's checked me out, he's
not coming anywhere near again.
Last time, the shark brought
things to an early end
by rolling on the line.
This one seems set
for the long haul.
Two hours.
Two hours.
It's a different phase
of the fight now.
It was tearing around, you know,
using speed in the early stages.
There it is again.
There it is again.
There it is again.
There's definitely some tactics
going on.
The speed didn't work,
so now just a bit
of a war of attrition.
Ah, this is punishment.
Two hours into the fight,
the shark begins pulling
the boat towards some shallows.
We're under 3 meters now.
By now, the battle is
beginning to attract attention.
This is turning into an event.
Everyone wants to see
this shark.
I can see the fish.
I can see the fish.
Back to 2 meters.
If my line catches a rock
down there,
it could cut through,
and the shark will be gone.
We got to get away
from the rocks here.
We're still in 2 meters now.
I've got a boat
full of scientists
relying on me
to get this shark in.
The tension on board
is palpable.
- 4 meters.
- There.
Okay, I've got the line.
If it goes, it can go without
the line catching anybody.
Pull that line 'round the...
Right.
Have you got
the tow strap 'round?
- Yep.
- Good. Okay. Brilliant.
- Got a good hold?
- Yeah.
Okay.
This is my biggest catch ever,
and 2 1/2 hours is by far
my longest fight.
It's astonishing to think
that I've hauled this beast
from a river.
Yeah.
But I was lucky
to get it in at all
because it was foul-hooked
in the side,
snagged on a flap of skin
between the gill slits.
The scientists want to know
why the sharks are here.
Right. This is like, sort of,
time is of the essence.
And they're actually...
They're starting to pump water
to irrigate the gills.
That buys
a little bit more time.
Last year's giant catch
was a heavily pregnant female,
which led the scientists
to assume
she was in this river to
deliver her 2-foot-long pups.
Our expectation is that
this fish, too, is female.
McCORD:
3, 2, 1.
Just gonna hold him in place.
McCORD:
It's a male!
Our first catch, and we have
answered one of our questions.
It looks like the Breede River
is a place
where sharks come to feed.
McCORD:
3, 2, 1.
9 1/2 feet,
and with an estimated weight
near 500 pounds,
he's one of the largest bull
sharks ever caught anywhere.
And I'm returning him
back into the river.
I've just caught a giant,
but I'm not off the hook.
The scientists want me
to try for another...
And this time, even bigger.
There is heated controversy
about returning the sharks
to the river,
where people swim and play.
But unlike bull sharks
elsewhere in the world,
these bull sharks
have never attacked a person.
So what makes the Breede River
sharks so unusual?
Hunting for clues,
I talk to local fishermen
who fish these waters
for grunter and cob.
- Big one.
- This one, yeah.
Coba Svede is a fisherman
and a kite surfer.
He's been here for 50 years,
and has had his fair share
of shark encounters.
Any thoughts why that might be?
And you're confident that if
you just take basic precautions,
you're perfectly happy about
going in the water yourself?
Eugene Beukes is one
of only a handful
of commercial fishermen
left in Witsand.
His knowledge of sharks
has been passed down
through his family.
Yeah. Yeah.
Are you surprised that no people
have been attacked?
I've had a call from Paul,
one of the tracking team,
who has just witnessed
a bull shark attack
right off the harbor wall.
This is the victim, is it?
It was incredible.
I just put the boat alongside
and heard a giant splash
about 20 yards
off the harbor wall here.
There was a giant pool of blood.
The fish floated up
to the surface.
One of the reasons bull sharks
got their name
is because they are known
to ram their prey
before they kill it.
This can clearly be seen
by the marks
along the side of this cob.
So you reckon it's actually just
hit it from the sides,
and then, when it's floundering
in the water,
just came along and just...
I mean, that...
I mean, that is just muscle.
But that's the killer blow,
isn't it?
Straight through.
A battering ram
armed with razor-sharp teeth.
That's about the thickness
of my leg,
which is quite disconcerting.
It's gone right through
the backbone as well.
Just clean through.
Gee.
This is actually the biggest cob
that I've seen so far,
and that is without
the final third,
which is out there somewhere
inside a shark.
Witnessing how they hit
monster-size prey
makes me even more determined
to land a monster-size
bull shark.
Before I try again,
I have the opportunity
to discover
exactly what the Breede River
bull sharks are doing
that sets them apart from
bull sharks in other rivers.
We head out to track the shark
that I caught and released.
The acoustic tag,
which we secured
to the back of the shark,
transmits a signal,
which we hear as a ping
on our hydrophone.
The clearer the sound,
the closer the shark.
It's up.
It's up.
Yeah?
So a bit further up, yeah?
All right.
Maybe the hint of something.
We might be
just out of the main range.
We end up 20 miles upriver
in search of the tagged shark.
What?
Apparently,
the guy there just said,
"You mustn't catch sharks here
'cause we swim here."
Um, I'm not quite sure
what the logic of that is.
I think, you know, whether we
catch them or not, they're here.
Apparently,
the big one last year
was tracked right past these
houses on several occasions.
Yeah, meanwhile, the one we're
looking for at the moment...
No sign... or shall I say
no sound... of it.
We turn and retrace our steps
back downriver,
searching as we go.
Eventually we come across
a group of fishing boats
just off Witsand.
A couple of fishermen
have just had a very close
encounter with a shark.
Teeth marks there.
Teeth there, teeth there.
Just trying to get a look
at that.
He had him in its mouth.
The shark tried to steal their
catch as they brought it in.
So I know there's a shark here,
and it's hungry.
Ah, there's a beep
already, yeah?
We found the tagged shark
that I released yesterday.
87, 81.
So we're straight ahead.
So it's actually...
Oh. Oh. 98.
The hydrophone signal peaks
at 100,
so 98 means the shark
is within yards of our boat.
Slightly worried about having
my hands close to the water now.
83.
There we go.
1:00.
According to the hydrophone,
the fish is being, you know,
right under that boat.
I'm just listening to the beats
and looking at the screen.
And then, when I get
the strongest signal,
I hold it here, I look up,
and it's just pointing
straight at the boat.
The Breede River bull sharks
have learned to shadow
fishing boats,
waiting for fish to be hooked,
then taking them off the line.
It's very specific,
systematic behavior.
There are no records
of bull sharks doing this
anywhere else in the world.
And I just witnessed it
firsthand.
It's like a protection payment.
The sharks steal a percentage
of the fishermen's catch,
and in exchange,
they leave humans alone...
At least for now.
Normally, one of the first
things you've got to do
is actually locate the fish,
but it appears that here,
even though we've got
a lot of water,
I don't have to go looking
for the shark.
They're gonna come looking
for me.
To many, it's the stuff
of nightmares...
A heavily populated river
that's also home to massive,
hungry bull sharks.
But can I make this work for me
and catch myself a monster?
My plan is to position myself
right next to the fishermen
and let the sharks come to me.
Yep, lots of activity
on the river today.
That's gonna get the sharks
quite excited.
I set up seven miles upriver,
in a spot close
to where the team landed
the big female shark
last year...
but well away
from this year's tagged shark,
which was last located
near the river mouth.
The tracking team are out
searching for him right now.
There's boats
generally around the river.
I think the sharks today
are gonna be active.
This is their big feeding day.
This is when the humans come
and do the work for them.
The biggest bull shark
ever recorded
was caught in this river.
And I'm determined
to catch another.
Then the tracking boat appears.
Oh, no.
Right. Meaghen's making signs
like this.
It's checking us out, yeah?
It looks like the tagged shark
is actually around the boat.
And I had no awareness
of that at all
until the tracking boat
turned up.
There's actually been a shark
circling the boat
for quite a few minutes,
apparently,
and we were just
totally unaware of it.
We're being shadowed by a giant
shark which is clearly hunting.
From now on, we'll keep
Meaghen on board
with the tracking equipment.
This way, I'll know exactly
when the tagged shark is nearby
so I can get my bait out
of the water before it strikes.
It's close.
This is just really frustrating.
It's just proving so hard
to keep away
from that tagged shark.
It's just covering
such an area of water.
It's right behind us now.
And we just popped it in
when we arrived here.
This is actually
one of the favored spots.
All clear, and, you know, about
five minutes after anchoring,
we're getting a signal.
The shark's
right under the boat.
Catching it again would not be
a good idea
because at the moment,
we've got a stable situation.
It comes along.
It's taking fish
from fisherman's boats,
and everybody's happy.
The fishermen aren't too happy,
but that is its main
or important source of food.
If anything actually makes the
sharks wary of fish near boats,
they could start feeding
in a more opportunistic way,
which, you know,
might not be good news
for the people around here.
So very important to avoid
hooking that fish again.
If I hook the same shark again
or if anyone else does,
it may become wary
of its normal food source
and start searching
for other prey.
We move on once again.
We're learning so much
about the behavior of
the bull sharks in this river
that the scientists are
desperate for me
to make another catch.
The capture of the male shark
told us that they're
probably here to feed.
And the tracking showed us
that they're actively following
fishing boats
for an easy supply of food.
Catching another big one
would confirm the Breede River
as home of the monster sharks.
I've left the tagged shark
several miles upriver
and set up
just off the town of Witsand.
This is what I use
for goliath tigerfish,
Nile perch, things like that...
80-pound line.
So a big shark on here
would be very interesting.
I might just try pulling
the bait a little bit.
If there's a predator watching,
sometimes just a little bit
of movement...
It's thinking about it.
It's thinking, "Do I want it?
Don't I want it?" But it's got
time to think about it.
If you move it suddenly,
it can be like a reflex.
Bang... They'll hit it.
Something had a go.
Yeah. Wait a minute.
The balloon is gone.
One, two, three...
This could be the monster
I came here for.
It knows it's hooked now.
This feels a good-size fish.
Oh, wait a minute.
What's happened there?
It's running. It's running.
It's running.
Only a shark in this river runs
with this power and speed.
But I've got a problem.
Oh, wait a minute.
What's happened there?
Suddenly went slack.
No. That's 'round something.
That's 'round something.
Ah!
It's actually snagged.
I've already lost one shark
to a broken line.
I don't want to lose another.
I can still feel the fish.
If we can go back, Mark.
Just get it off that snag,
whatever it is.
This is not good.
I think we're clear.
I think we're clear.
Oh, the line
is a bit shredded there.
Oh, that line is in a bad way.
This shark has taken the line
'round some debris
on the bottom.
And even though
it hasn't gone through,
it's very badly frayed.
I'm only on about...
I don't know...
Might only be 50% strength
on the line.
My line is wearing through.
But if I try to bring
the shark in too quickly,
I could lose it.
I'm just so nervous, 'cause I
know the line's not in good way.
One hour and one mile
further upriver.
A friend of mine who's caught
bull sharks said to me,
"Bull sharks,
it's not like a mako shark,
which is a real speed merchant."
A bull shark is very solid,
very muscular.
It'll just, like,
take you for a walk.
I feel like a 6-year-old child
taking a Rottweiler for a walk.
It feels bigger and stronger
than the other shark.
It's just getting more lively
all of a sudden.
It's right under the bow.
If we can go left.
All right. Okay.
Three miles from where I hooked
the shark,
and it's still pulling the boat.
People who say catching fish
doesn't cause any pain...
They're wrong.
My back is killing me.
Not to mention
where the rod butt is jammed.
Oh, dear.
It's gonna be an interesting
color after the end of all this.
As the hours pass,
the shark continues to drag
the boat up the river.
This is totally not normal
in a river.
I had a giant stingray on
for two hours.
But we've gone past that.
It must be 2 3/4 now.
The fight is now heading
towards its third hour.
The shark has taken the boat
and me four miles upriver.
It might come up.
It might come up.
Coming towards the surface.
That's the tail.
That's the fish...
Dorsal and tail.
Dorsal and tail.
First time
it's broken the surface.
It's gonna show again.
That's the dorsal.
Ah!
Wait.
It's under the boat.
Back, please. Back, back,
back, back, back, back.
That's the last... Here we go.
Right.
Now absolute concentration.
If I say let go,
just let go, all right?
Okay!
The gaff is necessary
to hold the head up,
but it barely punctures
the tough skin.
Bloody hell!
It's not really gaffed, is it?
This is gonna break the gaff.
It's gonna break
the bloody gaff.
This shark has battled with me
for 3 1/2 hours
and dragged the boat
five miles up the river.
Get to the back, I think.
McCORD:
We just need to get to the back.
You guys need to get off.
Never had a fight
anywhere like that long before.
That's almost double
the longest fight I had
with a freshwater stingray,
and those things just glue
themselves to the bottom.
Wow.
McCORD:
Pull.
The gaff's now out.
This bull shark
is definitely larger
than the last one I caught.
We'll keep it alive
while the team take samples,
measure it,
and insert the acoustic tag,
then get it back into the river.
Sharks can actually
pump water over their gills,
so I'm wedging the mouth open
with a bit of wood
and just shoving water
in its mouth.
It's another male bull shark...
9'10" long
and more than 500 pounds...
The biggest fish
I've ever caught,
and one of the largest
male bull sharks ever landed.
Tags are there, samples taken,
parasites, all the rest of it.
Very quick operation.
But this thing having been
so strong for so long
is now just feeling
a bit like I am.
So we just need to
get it revived.
Sharks trigger a primal fear
like no other,
and even though
it's utterly exhausted
after fighting with me
for nearly four hours,
this bull shark can still
prompt a nervous run for land.
McCORD:
Two catches, proving that last
year's shark was not a fluke
and that the Breede River
is home
to some of the largest bull
sharks anywhere in the world.
When I first came here,
I never imagined
that what we would find out
would take the investigation
so far forward
and actually provide
likely answers
to some of the big questions
about the sharks in this river.
It seems that they come here
during the warmer months
of the year to feed.
But it's not
a random feeding strategy.
Instead of wasting energy
by chasing free-swimming fish,
they're actually taking
their food from anglers' lines,
like plucking fruit from a tree.
It's a very efficient way
of feeding,
and perhaps this explains
why the sharks in this river
are so big.
This easy food source
also possibly explains
why there have never been
any attacks on humans.
And as long as the numbers of
those small fish remain healthy,
this remarkable coexistence
between humans
and potential man-eaters
should continue.
the bad boy of the shark world,
thought to be responsible
for more attacks on people
than any other shark.
Their ferocity
is the stuff of nightmares.
Pound for pound, they are
the ultimate killer shark.
Last year, I traveled
to Queensland, Australia,
to investigate three potential
bull shark attacks...
the first in the surf zone
at the mouth of a river...
the second on a man swimming
at night in an inland lagoon...
the third on a thoroughbred
racehorse 80 miles upstream.
At exactly the same time
I was there,
the biggest bull shark
ever caught
was pulled out
of a South African river
popular with swimmers.
Upon hearing this,
I instantly feared
another deadly situation.
My name is Jeremy Wade,
biologist and extreme fisherman.
I travel the world,
investigating stories
of freshwater monsters.
That's the killer blow.
That's about the thickness
of my leg.
This feels a good-size fish.
I'm heading to South Africa
to find out why sharks
are leaving their patch
and moving into mine.
That's the fish...
Dorsal and tail.
Dorsal and tail.
January 2009...
A series of unusual sightings
in the Breede River,
South Africa,
kick-starts an investigation.
What the scientists discover
shocks both the scientific
and the local communities.
For not only is this river
inhabited by sharks,
it is home to the biggest
bull shark ever caught
anywhere in the world.
Measuring 13 feet in length,
it is more than 3 feet longer
than the previous record.
A year later, the team is back
to see if they can discover
why it was here,
why it was so big,
and if that giant was alone.
This is where I come in.
I'm just as puzzled
as the scientists
by what's going on here.
And my many years' experience
of tracking down
and catching monster fish
from rivers
have got me
the unique opportunity
to join the investigation.
What we find out
could help to answer
the most important question
of all...
Is the presence
of this known man-eater
a human tragedy
just waiting to happen?
I'm more accustomed
to searching for monsters
in rivers that tumble
from mountain passes...
or investigating tribal
myths in tropical jungles...
places very remote
from our modern world.
So this is going to be
very different
from anything I've done before.
This is the sleepy
fishing village of Witsand
in a remote corner
of South Africa...
Not the place I would normally
hunt for a river monster.
However, under the surface
of this peaceful scene
lurks a monster bigger
and more aggressive
than anything
I have ever encountered.
But how can a saltwater shark
survive in freshwater?
It is said that for most sharks,
spending a day in freshwater
would be like a man walking on
the moon without a space suit.
But bull sharks are different.
They have sensors
all over their body
which sample the salt content
of the water,
working in a way
similar to our taste buds.
A special organ
called the rectal gland
acts like an on-off switch,
releasing or retaining salt
as required.
It's their ability to move
from shallow coastal waters,
where they normally live,
up into rivers
that makes them one of the most
dangerous of all sharks.
Wait!
I've investigated fatal attacks
in Australian rivers,
but bull sharks
have also attacked
in the Ganges in India,
the Tigris in Iran,
in Lake Nicaragua,
and even in the U.S.,
in New Jersey's Matawan Creek.
And now one has been found
here, in the Breede River...
only this one
was much, much bigger...
swimming undetected
where people swim.
Perhaps freshwater rivers are
no safer than the open sea.
So far, I only have a few photos
and newspaper clippings
to go on,
so I meet up with
shark scientist Meaghen McCord,
who brings me right up to date.
What exactly happened last year?
We were here
for three days, fishing.
On the third day, we were
up in the area up there
that's commonly known
as Hunpunt.
Meaghen led
last year's expedition
which caught the bull shark,
known further up the coast
as the Zambezi shark.
McCORD: Suddenly, around 3:00
in the afternoon,
our angler had his fish taken.
And about 2 1/2 hours later,
we managed to see that it
actually was a Zambezi shark.
What are you hoping to find out
this year?
This year, Jeremy, first of all,
we want to find out
whether that shark was just
a once-off in the system.
We're really counting on you
to catch us another animal.
Normally I head out
on my expeditions
to unpick a riddle
and satisfy my own curiosity.
But this time,
I have a scientific team
depending on me,
and the results could mean
the difference
between life and death.
This is the biggest fishing
challenge I have ever faced.
And if I connect
with one of these sharks,
it could be the biggest fish
I have ever hooked.
It's only now that I realize
what I've gotten into.
The sharks in this river have
a very specific way of feeding.
And that has actually given me
quite a challenge
in terms of what rig I use
because I've got to come up
with something
that presents the bait actually
in quite a delicate way,
but at the same time
is strong enough
to give me half a chance
to get the shark in.
And to be honest, at the moment,
I'm not quite sure
how I'm going to achieve that.
Sharks have evolved
the greatest sensitivity
to electricity of any animal.
Tiny pores around the snout
called the ampullae of Lorenzini
detect minute electrical fields
produced by other animals
in the water.
But they could also detect
electrical microcurrents
produced by my metal hook
and leader,
which is going to make bait
presentation very difficult.
I'm basically just looking
at what else I've got in my bag.
I've got various different types
of wire.
I've got smaller hooks.
Yeah, I think I'm just gonna
have to play around with stuff
for a few hours and just see
what I can come up with.
What I'm thinking of using
is something like this.
The trouble with these sharks
here is if you fish too heavy,
they're just not gonna take
the bait.
The bait isn't going to act
naturally.
So hopefully something like that
is gonna work.
It's hard to believe
that once I've caught
a potential man-eater,
the scientists will release it
back into the river,
like putting a fox
back into the chicken coop.
It's no surprise that this
project is so controversial.
With my rig built, I team up
with skipper Mark Wolf.
He has years of experience
fishing the Breede River.
His knowledge will be invaluable
if I'm to catch myself
a big shark.
We head to the spot
where the team caught
the monster last year.
To catch sharks
in the Breede River,
you first need live bait.
This feels good bait size.
Very strong.
Oh, there it is.
I only use live bait
if I have to,
and this is
one of those occasions.
The sharks in this river
will eat nothing else.
That's why they're called
a grunter.
You can hear
that noise it makes.
I'm hoping the grunter
struggling on the line
will have caught the attention
of a shark.
I transfer it to my heavier gear
and get it straight back
into the river.
It's actually
a very strongly swimming bait.
It's about 30, 40 yards
off there.
And that's right off the line.
It came in on one hook,
straight onto another one,
and out into the water.
It's possible
if there's shark in the area,
they actually checked that out
on the way in,
and they could well be
sort of lurking around,
eyeing that up.
I'm using a balloon rather
than a conventional float,
attached by a thin rubber band.
This allows the bait
to swim freely in midwater.
But when a shark takes,
the balloon will break away,
so the shark won't feel
any resistance,
which could make it drop
the bait.
I will then begin a count of 20.
I have to know that the shark
has properly taken the bait
so that when I tighten up,
my circle hook will pull
into the corner of its mouth.
I may only get one chance,
and I don't want to blow it.
Just a case now of waiting.
On the surface, this place
is an earthly paradise,
in sharp contrast
to the picture underwater,
where there lurks a beast that
is the embodiment of savagery.
Has the shark taken that, or is
that the bait just running?
That's not shooting out
at speed.
Ah, yes, yes, yes, yes.
There we go.
One, two, three...
From the moment
the bait's taken,
the speed of the run tells me
this has to be a shark.
Anchor up. Anchor up, please.
Anchor up.
And nothing else in this river
could engulf a bait that size.
11, 12...
Now I must keep a cool head
and wait for a count of 20
before I engage the reel.
18, 19.
Right.
Tightening up. Tightening up.
Tightening up. Tightening up.
There's the balloon
heading for the horizon.
Here we go.
Even with my harness
absorbing a lot of the strain,
this is like nothing
I've ever hooked before.
Oh, this sling's in the way.
A little bit
of an obstacle course.
This fish just feels
so powerful.
Without even really trying,
it's just taking line.
I've chased big fish
all over the world,
and experience tells me
that this could be
the biggest I've hooked...
More than capable
of dragging me overboard
if I make a wrong move.
Looks like it might come up.
Yes!
Just saw a fin
break the surface.
Coming to the left now.
This is quite a fast fish.
It's quite lively, which is good
'cause it means
it's tiring itself out.
Looks like a take on the line.
Coming up. Coming up.
Coming up.
There it is.
I think I could be ready.
Oh!
I think they might have...
What happened?
That shark felt as big
as anything I've ever caught.
What went?
But I'll never know for certain.
Yeah. It went.
That's actually...
That's bitten through the wire.
Bitten through the wire.
So that's a bite-off.
Ah.
Ah.
Score one to the fish.
I was overconfident.
I thought
I was bringing the shark in,
but now I realize the shark
was bringing the fight to me.
I could see it was large,
but it was not the
1,000-pounder caught last year,
which means there's more than
one shark using this river.
And that's a concern
to everyone living here.
I hate losing fish.
You're always haunted
by the memory of the big one
that got away.
But it did tell me something.
It suggests that there could be
a lot more shark in here
than anyone suspected.
Last year,
the team courted controversy.
After catching
the 1,000-pound bull shark
from this South African river,
they ran a series of tests,
attached an electronic tag,
and then released it
back into the river.
So you got the tag in.
What did you find out from that
tag in the time you were here?
We really had no idea
what to expect from the shark.
Over the course of the next
370 hours that we tracked her,
she moved up and down the river
to within feet of people
who were pumping for prawns
and in shallow water that was
probably just up to mid-thigh.
And how far up
did you track her?
McCORD: We tracked her as far
as 32 kilometers upriver,
which we thought was really
amazing, and, needless to say,
it sort of freaked out
the local Witsand residents.
Many of the human residents
were less than happy
that the world's biggest
bull shark had been released
and was again swimming freely
in their river.
But this wasn't
the only bull shark
that made the headlines
that week.
Experienced lifeguard
Sikhanyiso Bangilizwe
was keeping watch
over a stretch of beach
along the Natal shore.
He went out on a training swim
on a route he had swum
many times before.
The unprovoked attack
came out of the blue.
Bangilizwe
didn't stand a chance.
Close inspection of the wounds
on Bangilizwe's body
confirmed that it was
a bull shark
that attacked and killed him.
Even though this attack happened
600 miles up the coast,
it still helped
to stoke the anger
in Witsand's
riverside community.
Some residents were
understandably concerned
that the world's
biggest bull shark
had been put back
into their river,
and Meaghen had
some explaining to do.
She even received
serious threats
for her part
in releasing the shark.
It's still hard to believe
that after I catch one,
the scientists will require me
to release it
back into the river,
where people fish and play.
Oh. Oh.
One, two, three...
I've been given a second chance.
Anchor up, please.
Anchor up.
And I'm not going to
let this one get away.
Tightening up. Tightening up.
Tightening up. Tightening up.
Okay. Right. We're on. We're on.
We're on. We're on.
And it's running.
It's running.
It's running.
Look at that.
It's really cutting sideways.
Really cutting sideways.
Oh.
That was really heart-stopping
when it suddenly goes slack.
You think it's off, and then
there's tension there again.
It's probably kicking
or rolling on the line, even.
This apex predator
is not accustomed
to this kind of treatment.
There he is.
Instead of running away,
it's coming in to check me out.
I can't imagine what the shark
is making of this experience.
He's coming down.
With a lot of fish,
you see them up on the surface,
you see them close in,
you think, "That's it.
They're nearly done there."
I think this one was just coming
up partly out of curiosity...
"What's all this?
What's happening?"
Now he's checked me out, he's
not coming anywhere near again.
Last time, the shark brought
things to an early end
by rolling on the line.
This one seems set
for the long haul.
Two hours.
Two hours.
It's a different phase
of the fight now.
It was tearing around, you know,
using speed in the early stages.
There it is again.
There it is again.
There it is again.
There's definitely some tactics
going on.
The speed didn't work,
so now just a bit
of a war of attrition.
Ah, this is punishment.
Two hours into the fight,
the shark begins pulling
the boat towards some shallows.
We're under 3 meters now.
By now, the battle is
beginning to attract attention.
This is turning into an event.
Everyone wants to see
this shark.
I can see the fish.
I can see the fish.
Back to 2 meters.
If my line catches a rock
down there,
it could cut through,
and the shark will be gone.
We got to get away
from the rocks here.
We're still in 2 meters now.
I've got a boat
full of scientists
relying on me
to get this shark in.
The tension on board
is palpable.
- 4 meters.
- There.
Okay, I've got the line.
If it goes, it can go without
the line catching anybody.
Pull that line 'round the...
Right.
Have you got
the tow strap 'round?
- Yep.
- Good. Okay. Brilliant.
- Got a good hold?
- Yeah.
Okay.
This is my biggest catch ever,
and 2 1/2 hours is by far
my longest fight.
It's astonishing to think
that I've hauled this beast
from a river.
Yeah.
But I was lucky
to get it in at all
because it was foul-hooked
in the side,
snagged on a flap of skin
between the gill slits.
The scientists want to know
why the sharks are here.
Right. This is like, sort of,
time is of the essence.
And they're actually...
They're starting to pump water
to irrigate the gills.
That buys
a little bit more time.
Last year's giant catch
was a heavily pregnant female,
which led the scientists
to assume
she was in this river to
deliver her 2-foot-long pups.
Our expectation is that
this fish, too, is female.
McCORD:
3, 2, 1.
Just gonna hold him in place.
McCORD:
It's a male!
Our first catch, and we have
answered one of our questions.
It looks like the Breede River
is a place
where sharks come to feed.
McCORD:
3, 2, 1.
9 1/2 feet,
and with an estimated weight
near 500 pounds,
he's one of the largest bull
sharks ever caught anywhere.
And I'm returning him
back into the river.
I've just caught a giant,
but I'm not off the hook.
The scientists want me
to try for another...
And this time, even bigger.
There is heated controversy
about returning the sharks
to the river,
where people swim and play.
But unlike bull sharks
elsewhere in the world,
these bull sharks
have never attacked a person.
So what makes the Breede River
sharks so unusual?
Hunting for clues,
I talk to local fishermen
who fish these waters
for grunter and cob.
- Big one.
- This one, yeah.
Coba Svede is a fisherman
and a kite surfer.
He's been here for 50 years,
and has had his fair share
of shark encounters.
Any thoughts why that might be?
And you're confident that if
you just take basic precautions,
you're perfectly happy about
going in the water yourself?
Eugene Beukes is one
of only a handful
of commercial fishermen
left in Witsand.
His knowledge of sharks
has been passed down
through his family.
Yeah. Yeah.
Are you surprised that no people
have been attacked?
I've had a call from Paul,
one of the tracking team,
who has just witnessed
a bull shark attack
right off the harbor wall.
This is the victim, is it?
It was incredible.
I just put the boat alongside
and heard a giant splash
about 20 yards
off the harbor wall here.
There was a giant pool of blood.
The fish floated up
to the surface.
One of the reasons bull sharks
got their name
is because they are known
to ram their prey
before they kill it.
This can clearly be seen
by the marks
along the side of this cob.
So you reckon it's actually just
hit it from the sides,
and then, when it's floundering
in the water,
just came along and just...
I mean, that...
I mean, that is just muscle.
But that's the killer blow,
isn't it?
Straight through.
A battering ram
armed with razor-sharp teeth.
That's about the thickness
of my leg,
which is quite disconcerting.
It's gone right through
the backbone as well.
Just clean through.
Gee.
This is actually the biggest cob
that I've seen so far,
and that is without
the final third,
which is out there somewhere
inside a shark.
Witnessing how they hit
monster-size prey
makes me even more determined
to land a monster-size
bull shark.
Before I try again,
I have the opportunity
to discover
exactly what the Breede River
bull sharks are doing
that sets them apart from
bull sharks in other rivers.
We head out to track the shark
that I caught and released.
The acoustic tag,
which we secured
to the back of the shark,
transmits a signal,
which we hear as a ping
on our hydrophone.
The clearer the sound,
the closer the shark.
It's up.
It's up.
Yeah?
So a bit further up, yeah?
All right.
Maybe the hint of something.
We might be
just out of the main range.
We end up 20 miles upriver
in search of the tagged shark.
What?
Apparently,
the guy there just said,
"You mustn't catch sharks here
'cause we swim here."
Um, I'm not quite sure
what the logic of that is.
I think, you know, whether we
catch them or not, they're here.
Apparently,
the big one last year
was tracked right past these
houses on several occasions.
Yeah, meanwhile, the one we're
looking for at the moment...
No sign... or shall I say
no sound... of it.
We turn and retrace our steps
back downriver,
searching as we go.
Eventually we come across
a group of fishing boats
just off Witsand.
A couple of fishermen
have just had a very close
encounter with a shark.
Teeth marks there.
Teeth there, teeth there.
Just trying to get a look
at that.
He had him in its mouth.
The shark tried to steal their
catch as they brought it in.
So I know there's a shark here,
and it's hungry.
Ah, there's a beep
already, yeah?
We found the tagged shark
that I released yesterday.
87, 81.
So we're straight ahead.
So it's actually...
Oh. Oh. 98.
The hydrophone signal peaks
at 100,
so 98 means the shark
is within yards of our boat.
Slightly worried about having
my hands close to the water now.
83.
There we go.
1:00.
According to the hydrophone,
the fish is being, you know,
right under that boat.
I'm just listening to the beats
and looking at the screen.
And then, when I get
the strongest signal,
I hold it here, I look up,
and it's just pointing
straight at the boat.
The Breede River bull sharks
have learned to shadow
fishing boats,
waiting for fish to be hooked,
then taking them off the line.
It's very specific,
systematic behavior.
There are no records
of bull sharks doing this
anywhere else in the world.
And I just witnessed it
firsthand.
It's like a protection payment.
The sharks steal a percentage
of the fishermen's catch,
and in exchange,
they leave humans alone...
At least for now.
Normally, one of the first
things you've got to do
is actually locate the fish,
but it appears that here,
even though we've got
a lot of water,
I don't have to go looking
for the shark.
They're gonna come looking
for me.
To many, it's the stuff
of nightmares...
A heavily populated river
that's also home to massive,
hungry bull sharks.
But can I make this work for me
and catch myself a monster?
My plan is to position myself
right next to the fishermen
and let the sharks come to me.
Yep, lots of activity
on the river today.
That's gonna get the sharks
quite excited.
I set up seven miles upriver,
in a spot close
to where the team landed
the big female shark
last year...
but well away
from this year's tagged shark,
which was last located
near the river mouth.
The tracking team are out
searching for him right now.
There's boats
generally around the river.
I think the sharks today
are gonna be active.
This is their big feeding day.
This is when the humans come
and do the work for them.
The biggest bull shark
ever recorded
was caught in this river.
And I'm determined
to catch another.
Then the tracking boat appears.
Oh, no.
Right. Meaghen's making signs
like this.
It's checking us out, yeah?
It looks like the tagged shark
is actually around the boat.
And I had no awareness
of that at all
until the tracking boat
turned up.
There's actually been a shark
circling the boat
for quite a few minutes,
apparently,
and we were just
totally unaware of it.
We're being shadowed by a giant
shark which is clearly hunting.
From now on, we'll keep
Meaghen on board
with the tracking equipment.
This way, I'll know exactly
when the tagged shark is nearby
so I can get my bait out
of the water before it strikes.
It's close.
This is just really frustrating.
It's just proving so hard
to keep away
from that tagged shark.
It's just covering
such an area of water.
It's right behind us now.
And we just popped it in
when we arrived here.
This is actually
one of the favored spots.
All clear, and, you know, about
five minutes after anchoring,
we're getting a signal.
The shark's
right under the boat.
Catching it again would not be
a good idea
because at the moment,
we've got a stable situation.
It comes along.
It's taking fish
from fisherman's boats,
and everybody's happy.
The fishermen aren't too happy,
but that is its main
or important source of food.
If anything actually makes the
sharks wary of fish near boats,
they could start feeding
in a more opportunistic way,
which, you know,
might not be good news
for the people around here.
So very important to avoid
hooking that fish again.
If I hook the same shark again
or if anyone else does,
it may become wary
of its normal food source
and start searching
for other prey.
We move on once again.
We're learning so much
about the behavior of
the bull sharks in this river
that the scientists are
desperate for me
to make another catch.
The capture of the male shark
told us that they're
probably here to feed.
And the tracking showed us
that they're actively following
fishing boats
for an easy supply of food.
Catching another big one
would confirm the Breede River
as home of the monster sharks.
I've left the tagged shark
several miles upriver
and set up
just off the town of Witsand.
This is what I use
for goliath tigerfish,
Nile perch, things like that...
80-pound line.
So a big shark on here
would be very interesting.
I might just try pulling
the bait a little bit.
If there's a predator watching,
sometimes just a little bit
of movement...
It's thinking about it.
It's thinking, "Do I want it?
Don't I want it?" But it's got
time to think about it.
If you move it suddenly,
it can be like a reflex.
Bang... They'll hit it.
Something had a go.
Yeah. Wait a minute.
The balloon is gone.
One, two, three...
This could be the monster
I came here for.
It knows it's hooked now.
This feels a good-size fish.
Oh, wait a minute.
What's happened there?
It's running. It's running.
It's running.
Only a shark in this river runs
with this power and speed.
But I've got a problem.
Oh, wait a minute.
What's happened there?
Suddenly went slack.
No. That's 'round something.
That's 'round something.
Ah!
It's actually snagged.
I've already lost one shark
to a broken line.
I don't want to lose another.
I can still feel the fish.
If we can go back, Mark.
Just get it off that snag,
whatever it is.
This is not good.
I think we're clear.
I think we're clear.
Oh, the line
is a bit shredded there.
Oh, that line is in a bad way.
This shark has taken the line
'round some debris
on the bottom.
And even though
it hasn't gone through,
it's very badly frayed.
I'm only on about...
I don't know...
Might only be 50% strength
on the line.
My line is wearing through.
But if I try to bring
the shark in too quickly,
I could lose it.
I'm just so nervous, 'cause I
know the line's not in good way.
One hour and one mile
further upriver.
A friend of mine who's caught
bull sharks said to me,
"Bull sharks,
it's not like a mako shark,
which is a real speed merchant."
A bull shark is very solid,
very muscular.
It'll just, like,
take you for a walk.
I feel like a 6-year-old child
taking a Rottweiler for a walk.
It feels bigger and stronger
than the other shark.
It's just getting more lively
all of a sudden.
It's right under the bow.
If we can go left.
All right. Okay.
Three miles from where I hooked
the shark,
and it's still pulling the boat.
People who say catching fish
doesn't cause any pain...
They're wrong.
My back is killing me.
Not to mention
where the rod butt is jammed.
Oh, dear.
It's gonna be an interesting
color after the end of all this.
As the hours pass,
the shark continues to drag
the boat up the river.
This is totally not normal
in a river.
I had a giant stingray on
for two hours.
But we've gone past that.
It must be 2 3/4 now.
The fight is now heading
towards its third hour.
The shark has taken the boat
and me four miles upriver.
It might come up.
It might come up.
Coming towards the surface.
That's the tail.
That's the fish...
Dorsal and tail.
Dorsal and tail.
First time
it's broken the surface.
It's gonna show again.
That's the dorsal.
Ah!
Wait.
It's under the boat.
Back, please. Back, back,
back, back, back, back.
That's the last... Here we go.
Right.
Now absolute concentration.
If I say let go,
just let go, all right?
Okay!
The gaff is necessary
to hold the head up,
but it barely punctures
the tough skin.
Bloody hell!
It's not really gaffed, is it?
This is gonna break the gaff.
It's gonna break
the bloody gaff.
This shark has battled with me
for 3 1/2 hours
and dragged the boat
five miles up the river.
Get to the back, I think.
McCORD:
We just need to get to the back.
You guys need to get off.
Never had a fight
anywhere like that long before.
That's almost double
the longest fight I had
with a freshwater stingray,
and those things just glue
themselves to the bottom.
Wow.
McCORD:
Pull.
The gaff's now out.
This bull shark
is definitely larger
than the last one I caught.
We'll keep it alive
while the team take samples,
measure it,
and insert the acoustic tag,
then get it back into the river.
Sharks can actually
pump water over their gills,
so I'm wedging the mouth open
with a bit of wood
and just shoving water
in its mouth.
It's another male bull shark...
9'10" long
and more than 500 pounds...
The biggest fish
I've ever caught,
and one of the largest
male bull sharks ever landed.
Tags are there, samples taken,
parasites, all the rest of it.
Very quick operation.
But this thing having been
so strong for so long
is now just feeling
a bit like I am.
So we just need to
get it revived.
Sharks trigger a primal fear
like no other,
and even though
it's utterly exhausted
after fighting with me
for nearly four hours,
this bull shark can still
prompt a nervous run for land.
McCORD:
Two catches, proving that last
year's shark was not a fluke
and that the Breede River
is home
to some of the largest bull
sharks anywhere in the world.
When I first came here,
I never imagined
that what we would find out
would take the investigation
so far forward
and actually provide
likely answers
to some of the big questions
about the sharks in this river.
It seems that they come here
during the warmer months
of the year to feed.
But it's not
a random feeding strategy.
Instead of wasting energy
by chasing free-swimming fish,
they're actually taking
their food from anglers' lines,
like plucking fruit from a tree.
It's a very efficient way
of feeding,
and perhaps this explains
why the sharks in this river
are so big.
This easy food source
also possibly explains
why there have never been
any attacks on humans.
And as long as the numbers of
those small fish remain healthy,
this remarkable coexistence
between humans
and potential man-eaters
should continue.