Shark spotted by boat ramp

This blue shark (Prionace glauca) measuring about six feet long was seen by Brad Leggott in about two feet of water at the Parua Bay boat ramp. Photo / Brad Leggot

Fishers and bathers at Parua Bay are being warned to keep an eye out for a blue shark that has been lurking near the Parua Bay boat ramp in just a few feet of water.

Whangarei fisher Brad Leggott, who owns Stumpy's Takeaway on Riverside Drive, saw the shark, roughly six feet in length, in shallow water near the boat ramp about 9am on Saturday.

Mr Leggott initially thought the shark could be a mako - one of the country's most deadly sharks - and he was concerned that it was so close to shore and just 50 metres or so away from where children leap off the wharf in summer.

Department of Conservation shark expert Clinton Duffy said the shark was actually a blue shark (Prionace glauca), and while they are not normally aggressive towards people, they can bite when stimulated by bait or discarded fish.

Mr Leggott said he was shocked to see the shark so close to shore.

"I've been fishing out from the boat ramp there for years and this is the first time I've seen a shark that close to shore. It was only in a couple of feet of water. I couldn't see any shoals of fish around so it didn't appear to be chasing fish," he said.

Mr Duffy said blue sharks were probably the most abundant large shark found in New Zealand waters.

"Although they are primarily an oceanic species it is not unusual to encounter them close to shore, including in the surf zone, over summer. There have been occasional records of them inside Whangarei Harbour before. They'll enter very shallow water to find food, including scavenging discarded fish."

Mr Duffy said the usual advice applies to fishers.

"They should avoid berleying or discarding fish frames anywhere near swimmers or divers as the chances of attracting a shark or sharks at this time of year are pretty good."