And for Wollongong and Shellharbour councils it is business as usual in relation to sharks.

This week 200 North Coast surfers voted for a cull of problem sharks, prompted by several attacks, including the fatal mauling of surfer Tadashi Nakahara in February.

At the Farm Beach on Thursday, the Pines Surf Academy's Vaya Phrachanh said his classes had been packed for most of the year.

"I've been surfing over 20 years and I've never seen a shark," he said.

He said students' attitudes often followed media attention - when Steve Irwin died, students were worried about stingrays, but that soon died away.

"The biggest danger we all face is rips," he said.

"But when a shark attacks someone it's plastered all over the world."

Shark hysteria reached fever pitch on Thursday when Sydney's Daily Telegraph published a picture of a four-metre tiger shark, initially claimed to have been caught off Lennox Head.

Later, the fisherman who claimed to have landed the shark told media it was caught about 22 kilometres off Tweed Heads, about 65 kilometres from Lennox.

Asked on Thursday whether Wollongong City Council was doing things differently following an increase in attacks this year, a spokesman said the council would continue with its "measured" approach.

"While the increase in sightings and events on the North Coast are distressing, council will continue with a measured and proactive approach to managing its beaches," he said.

"Council's approach incorporates using the aerial shark surveillance services available through the Illawarra aerial patrol and through lifeguard surveillance at its patrolled beaches."

Shellharbour City Council was similarly general. Council lifeguards would continue to communicate any shark sightings and make every effort to advise the community about any shark sightings, a spokeswoman said.