Two local young men who had been fishing off the wharf actually jumped in and swam a short distance with the massive fish, estimated to be around 10-metres long, an experience normally reserved for those who travel to tropical locations such as WA’s Ningaloo Reef.

The Far South Coast is at the southerly boundary of the whale shark’s migration, but they have been encountered as far south as Eden, and the water at Tathra this week is a warm 22 degrees, with most likely an abundance of plankton attracting the distance-swimming filter feeder.

Wednesday’s whale shark was last seen by the dozens of people on the wharf swimming toward the beach and north on Tathra Bay.

The Tathra Wharf has seen its fair share of big fish action in recent weeks.

One angler fishing for small tuna-like bonito with a popper-style lure hooked a marlin, with the crowd again witnessing the big fish speed off into the distance with the hapless angler powerless to stop the creature with his relatively puny gear.

There has also been a fair bit of heavy gear fishing going on, despite the local council ordinance specifically banning shark fishing from the wharf.

Several small bronze whalers and hammerheads have been caught on whole fish baits, brought up onto the wharf and dispatched by the anglers, much to the amazement and occasional distress from spectators.

At least one larger whaler shark has been landed and released from the rocks adjacent to the wharf, while there was also one report of an endangered grey nurse shark hooked and brought up to the surface at the wharf before being released, although this has not been verified.