Jimmy Blenkey had taken mates Gavin Fairclough and Brad Noble in his five-metre boat to "catch some dinner" when they first noticed something rise from near their sea anchor.

"It just came up for a look at us, rolled on its side and cruised off," Mr Blenkey said. "We waited around for a while thinking it might come back, but it didn't."

What got the fisherman even more excited was the smaller fish following the great white shark. They started pondering if it could be a shark pup following its mother.

But shark experts have been quick to point out there is no evidence white sharks stay with their young after birth.

Other fisherman thought the smaller fish may be a cobia, a species which look a little like a small shark and are known to follow larger animals to scavenge.