Snake Catch Shocks Angler
By Ulladulla High School work experience student Shalese Patterson and Karisa Whelan
Wednesday, 5 July 2006
IMAGE: http://milton.yourguide.com.au/viewimage.asp?id=492378
Ulladulla fisherman Josef Mayer got the shock of a lifetime when he pulled in a
yellow bellied sea snake last Wednesday. Josef was fishing off Rennies Beach in Ulladulla when he landed what he initially thought was an eel.
After taking the creature home, a browse through a book detailing Australia's deadliest animals showed Josef's catch in all it's glory. Josef said he was surprised with his catch, as he was expecting a fish for dinner. "I had hoped to catch a fish, but all I ended up catching was a snake," he said.
The snake displays a black and yellow pattern with a black and yellow spotted tail but faded after being pulled from the ocean. "He was much brighter when I first hooked him," Josef said. "I hope to get him back on his feet and release him again. I think it would be best to release him off a little known beach."
This species is normally only seen off shore in the northern waters of Australia, making the catch
one in a million. The yellow bellied sea snake is an ocean dweller, rarely seen in shore and is known for its
highly toxic venom. The sea snake is known to be deadlier than a cobra but due to the small size of it's fangs, is unlikely to attack a human.
It is the fastest of all snakes, swimming up to 3.25 kilometres per hour.
Snake Catch Shocks Angler
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