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By Lou Robson

PACKS of great white sharks are feeding off southeast Queensland, experts say.

The warmer weather and migrating whales brought the sharks north from their traditional cooler cruising waters in Victoria and South Australia.

"The great whites move up with the whales and follow them back down again," said Department of Primary Industries shark-control program manager Tony Ham.

He said the great white shark population was thickest off southeast Queensland beaches in October and November.

His comments follow a lucky escape by 52-year-old Linda Whitehurst, who fought off a 3m great white with her surf ski paddle at Byron Bay in northern New South Wales on Monday.

The mother of two escaped with stitches to her arm after striking the man-eater with her paddle, getting back on her craft and making the 150m to shore.

Most Queensland beaches are protected by shark nets and baited drumlines.

"So far this season we've caught three and since the '90s we've caught an average of 10 a year," Mr Ham said.

The sharks were caught off Bundaberg and the Sunshine Coast.

Great white sharks spend most of the year in the cold waters off Victoria and South Australia.

Controversial shark-catcher Vic Hislop said packs of great whites were waiting off southeast Queensland to feed on whales and their calves.

"There's plenty of great whites off the coast at the moment, particularly off Fraser, Moreton and North Stradbroke islands," Mr Hislop said.

Mr Ham said bull and tiger sharks were also aggressive due to the warmer weather, fish movement and breeding cycles.

Source - Adelaide Now, AU