Watch

'Epic' dolphin encounter caught by adventurer

Ben Smyth
Updated May 6 2024 - 5:24pm, first published 5:16pm
WATCH: 'Epic' dolphin encounter by South Coast travellers

An "epic" encounter with a friendly dolphin has an adventurer on a high after the experience.

Dave Boyes, 30, recently returned from a sailing trip up the east coast of Australia to the Flinders Group National Park in the Great Barrier Reef.

Mr Boyes from Moruya on the NSW south coast and a couple of mates spent two years travelling the coast from Batemans Bay to Far North Queensland and back.

Moruya's Dave Boyes recently returned from a two-year adventure with friends sailing the east coast of Australia. Pictures supplied
Moruya's Dave Boyes recently returned from a two-year adventure with friends sailing the east coast of Australia. Pictures supplied

It was while in southern Queensland waters fishing for yellowfin tuna that a very curious dolphin swam alongside their boat, cheekily after a share of the catch.

He shared video footage on his Instagram account of the encounter that he described as "epic".

"We were just out past the FAD and he poked his head up to say g'day," Mr Boyes said.

"I've never seen a dolphin do that.

"Maybe he knew where he could get a free feed!"

Dave Boyes with skipper Liam Harkins and his partner Sam Scullin during their east coast adventure. Picture supplied
Dave Boyes with skipper Liam Harkins and his partner Sam Scullin during their east coast adventure. Picture supplied

The video shows Mr Boyes hand feeding chunks of freshly caught tuna to the dolphin which really appears to be smiling and happy with the meal.

And why wouldn't it be.

"Fresh sashimi, they were premium chunks!" he said with a chuckle.

Dave with the yellowfin tuna with which they fed the dolphin. Picture supplied
Dave with the yellowfin tuna with which they fed the dolphin. Picture supplied

Mr Boyes said he and his friends had seen plenty of incredible things while exploring the Great Barrier Reef and the east coast during their journey but this one really stood out as a highlight.

"It was epic. It would've been with us for about 20 minutes.

The friends sailed the east coast of Australia from Batemans Bay to Far North Queensland and back over two years. Picture supplied
The friends sailed the east coast of Australia from Batemans Bay to Far North Queensland and back over two years. Picture supplied

"We caught a lot of different fish on the trip. The ocean provides.

"This was us giving something back to the ocean."

Take a look at some of the friends' east coast adventures on Instagram at @paradisesouthexperience_

Ben Smyth

Ben Smyth

Editor

I have worked as a journalist since 2005 and am now Editor of Australian Community Media mastheads in Bega, Merimbula and Eden