Qld beaches reopen despite shark, baitfish

Gold Coast beaches have reopened two days after a fatal shark attack on a surfer despite large amounts of baitfish in the water and a third tiger shark being caught in the area.

Nick Slater, 46, died shortly after being bitten on the leg by a suspected great white shark at Greenmount Beach on Tuesday.

It was the first fatal shark attack on the Gold Coast in 60 years.

A 22km stretch of beach between the NSW border and Burleigh Heads was closed on Wednesday as authorities hunted the shark.

The City of Gold Coast later reopened the beaches, and lifeguards on jet skis and helicopters will continue to patrol the area on Thursday.

The shark that killed Mr Slater could still be in the area, and beachgoers have been warned schools of fish in the area will make it risky to enter the water.

"We advise all beachgoers to exercise extreme caution as there are large amounts of baitfish in the water," City of Gold Coast said in a statement.

Gold Coast District Chief Superintendent Mark Wheeler says police all-terrain vehicles are also patrolling the area but admitted it could not guarantee beachgoers would be safe.

"It's an individual choice ... but when you look at the tragic circumstances of this particular situation you're taking your safety into your own hands," Mr Wheeler said on Thursday.

It's still uncertain what species of shark killed Mr Slater, but a great white or a tiger shark is believed to be responsible.

Jade Parker, one of the surfers who waded out to help Mr Slater, found a 4cm tooth lodged in Mr Slater's board, which he believed was from "an obvious white pointer".

Police also believe the shark involved was a great white.

"At this stage we do believe, based on our preliminary inquiries that a great white was involved, but those matters will be canvassed further in the coroner's report," Supt Wheeler said.

Queensland Fisheries said on Wednesday that two tiger sharks were caught in drumlines and nets near Greenmount Beach in the hours after the attack.

On Thursday the department said a 3.4 metre tiger shark has since been caught on a drumline at nearby Snapper Rocks.

Mr Slater's friend Adrian Southern, who lives in Canberra, didn't know his mate had died until he saw his photo on television.

He will remember Mr Slater as a man who lived life to the full.

"Crikey, Nick's cheeky smile, you know he was a real Mad Huey at heart. One of those guys who was just out there living the dream," Mr Southern told the Nine Network.

Mr Southern said Mr Slater certainly wouldn't want the shark responsible to be killed.

"Nick was fully aware of the environment he was playing within. I don't think it's something that Nick would want see - a shark hunted," he said.

"This is only the second attack that's occurred where there's protected beaches along that Gold Coast stretch, so again it's very unusual."

Fisheries Minister Mark Furner told parliament on Wednesday that shark control measures would be reviewed.

The Humane Society International urged the government to implement new technology to help reduce the risk sharks pose to people, including drone surveillance and SMART drumlines.