There has been no unusual increase in bull shark numbers in the Hastings, according to Ned Kelly's Bait 'n' Tackle owner Jason Isaac.

"Bull sharks have always been there, they always will be," he said.

"There is no increase in shark numbers or change to shark numbers, however there are quite a few people who actively going out to fish for them so a few more will be caught than what is normal throughout the year.

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"Just recently, there was a fairly significant bull shark caught in the Hastings. Otherwise I don't think there has been a significant change in the numbers.

"Certainly this season is no different to the last 30 years."

There has been a definitive drop in the number and location of available mud crabs though, according to Mr Isaac.

"Mud crab numbers this year have been very, very poor and they are actually a lot further upriver due to the lack of rainfall," he said.

"Speaking to everyone who is chasing crabs, there have been very few in the lower part of the Hastings compared to what we would normally get."

Bull sharks return to river systems for extended periods of time to breed, while young are born in estuaries and may remain in the river for up to five years, according to The Department of Primary Industries.

READ MORE: Sharks are a sign that Hastings River is healthy, say local fishos

"You may see smaller bull sharks jumping from the water this time of year and traditionally this is a time when large female bull sharks are coming into the rivers to breed," said Castaway Estuary Fishing professional fishing guide Mark Saxon.

"Some fishermen will be targeting larger sharks in the rivers because there is certainly a lot of bait fish available for them to feed on at the moment."

The only recorded fatal bull shark attack in the Hastings River was on November 12, 1947.

Brothers Rupert and Edwin (12) were attacked by a shark and Edwin fatally wounded near Hacks Ferry on the Maria River, 12 miles from the mouth of the Hastings in Port Macquarie.

The Wauchope Gazette originally reported the attack as a 'sudden and terrible tragedy'.

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