A 62-year-old man who was bitten on the foot, leg and arm by a great white shark has joked that he survived because the animal didn’t like the taste of a vegan.

Colin Rowland, was bitten by what the Department of Primary Industries confirmed was a great white shark off Booti Booti, south of Forster, after 9am yesterday.

"It's joyous to be alive" Mr Rowland said. (9NEWS)

Mr Rowland said all he could do was keep kicking after the shark “took him two metres” into the air.

“I was catapulted into the air. I looked around and saw the great white fin – it was definitely over 2 foot – and it was monstrous,” he told 9NEWS.

“It’s joyous to be alive.”

The man was reportedly attacked by great white shark measuring 2.5-3.5 metres long. (Supplied)

He also expressed gratitude for the surfer who bundled him onto his own board and take him in to shore.

TV camera footage of Mr Rowland arriving at Newcastle’s John Hunter Hospital yesterday showed him in good spirits, giving a thumbs-up to the cameras while strapped to a stretcher.

Mr Rowland's son James posted a photo of his dad to Facebook just eight hours after the attack, saying his dad will be "back in the water ASAP."

"Just letting everyone know dads doing pretty dam good considering!" James wrote.

"And he wants thank everyone for their love and support . We are still waiting for the surgery on this foot but he'll be back in the water ASAP xxx."

Friend Greg Preston told 9NEWS he watched on in “terror” as Mr Rowland was “dragged under the water” by the predator.

"He's taken a chunk out of the surfboard and also grabbed his leg rope and dragged him under the water so you know, all in all a very lucky man,” Mr Preston said.

"I just saw Colin, me mate, get launched out of the water, about three or four feet, in a big cloud (in the) water

Vegan Colin Rowland, 62, survived a shark attack yesterday morning. (9NEWS)

“The terror in his eyes was unbelievable, and then he got knocked again and then his board got shattered into a few pieces."

It comes as drum lines have been dropped along the coast near Booti Booti, Boomerang and Elizabeth beaches, which were closed immediately after the attack yesterday.

Five were set this morning around Bulls Paddock, a popular surfing hotspot on the southern end of Seven Mile Beach, where Mr Rowland was attacked.