The North Coast was rocked by the attacks on Thursday and Friday morning, with one man fighting for life after having his legs mauled by a great white shark and another surfer knocked off his board.

The aerial patrol was called to the area to watch over the Gromfest surf competition at Lennox Head. The first day of the competition was cancelled after Friday's attack, but aerial patrol general manager Harry Mitchell said one of his fixed-wing aircraft would watch over the surf in coming days.

"We'll be commencing operations at 9am Saturday, and will be there for at least three days. We'll review the situation on Monday, and see if they want us to stay for Tuesday and Wednesday," Mr Mitchell said.

Ballina Shire Council Mayor David Wright said Gromfest was the biggest junior surf contest in the world, with more than 270 competitors and 1000 people flooding into Lennox Head.

"After [Friday's] attack, we had everyone out of the water in about two minutes. We're still trying to have [all the events finished] within five days instead of six," he said. "We've got a few helicopters, five water craft in the contest area, and the aerial patrol. We thought it would be a good idea to have them too."

Mr Mitchell said the aerial patrol was the only dedicated fixed-wing beach patrol in the state, and one of only a handful in Australia. He said only one aircraft would travel north, leaving two others at their home base to respond to any local incidents.