A "huge" shark has sent a canoeist scrambling for safety in a suburban Brisbane creek this morning.

The shark, believed to be a bull shark, was spotted about 7am in Norman Creek, at Norman Park, in Brisbane's east.

Bull sharks are found in tropical oceans and freshwater.

The headmaster of Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie), which backs onto the creek, said residents were talking about the sighting.

"A local resident was walking over our bridge and they spotted the shark. They were right on top of it," Jonathan Hensman said.