Within hours of a trap being set in a popular Queensland waterway a crocodile has taken the bait.
The 2.8-metre reptile is one of 60 animals to be removed from the state's waterways so far this year.
That is the highest number since 2017 and senior wildlife officer Tony Frisby says they've been responding to more crocodile sightings than usual this season.
"The animals are moving around a lot more this year than what they have in previous years," he says.
"Certainly there has been an increase and we put that partially down to an extended wet season."
Tony Frisby (front) travels along the Ross River to check a crocodile trap. (ABC North Qld: Rachael Merritt)
The reptile was deemed a threat after it was spotted lingering near a boat ramp on the Ross River in Townsville and feeding on discarded fish scraps and bait left by recreational fishers.
Mr Frisby has spent decades warning the public that that kind of behaviour increases the chance of a fatal crocodile attack.
But ahead of the upcoming wet season, when heavy rainfall swells waterways and increases crocodile activity, he worries the advice is still being ignored.
"The worst behaviour that I see on a regular basis is the catching of bait for fishing," Mr Frisby says.
"We see people standing up to their waist [in water].
"They might not be the first person that's been standing there throwing bait — therefore the animals learn habits very quickly."
Wildlife rangers secure a crocodile trap on a popular north Queensland waterway. (ABC North Qld: Rachael Merritt)
Mr Frisby says there is no shortage of misconceptions about crocodile behaviour, even among locals, and he wants to combat the myths.
He says some people believe saltwater crocodiles cannot be found in freshwater environments.
"That is simply not true … crocodiles do live in fresh water and they will co-exist with freshwater crocodiles as well," he says.
Mr Frisby says a belief that crocs could not bite people below the water's surface is also incorrect.
"It's just crazy sometimes … they're [myths] — the things that scare you when you see that sort of thing happening."
Captured reptiles are transferred to crocodile farms. (ABC North Qld: Rachael Merritt)
Crocodiles on the move
The wet season for 2023-24 in Australia's north was the ninth-wettest on record, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
This year the onset of rainfall in northern Queensland is likely to begin earlier than usual and many areas, especially the Cape York Peninsula, could see plenty of wet weather.
"What rainfall does is it connects waterways that were isolated in the dry season, which gives [crocodiles] the ability to be a lot more mobile," University of Queensland wildlife researcher Kaitlin Barham says.
"There is a chance we will see more crocodile activity because of that."
Queensland's crocodile population is smaller than the NT's, but it is steadily growing. (ABC News: Michael Franchi)
Ms Barham says the reptiles tend to form communities during the dry season and begin travelling significant distances after the first rainfalls.
"There is the potential we'll see more of these wet summers that are correlated with more croc sightings and activity," she says.
Queensland's estuarine crocodile population is estimated to be between 20,000 and 30,000, which is about three to four times smaller than the Northern Territory's.
The population has slowly recovered since the state passed protection laws in 1974 and is expected to grow at a rate of about two per cent per year.
Wildlife ranger Rebecca Moss takes calls from residents who have spotted a crocodile. (ABC North Qld: Rachael Merritt)
'Frazzled' phone calls
About 1,025 crocodiles have been reported to the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation so far this year.
On the busiest days at the Queensland Parks and Wildlife office in Townsville, rangers can receive as many as five phone calls from concerned people who have spotted a crocodile in the wild.
The team responds to sightings from as far north as Cape York and as far south as Rockhampton.
"Sometimes they're actually calling in a couple days later because they're still frazzled about it," wildlife officer Rebecca Moss says.
"The crocodile might have actually made contact with the vessel and people often do get quite frightened and quite emotional."
Details about the crocodile's location, behaviour and size are recorded, but Ms Moss says the animal needs to be observed multiple times by rangers before a decision about whether to remove it is made.
A crocodile is classed as "problematic" based on its location and whether it has been aggressive towards humans.
The yellow dots indicate locations where crocodiles have been reported this year. (ABC North Qld: Rachael Merritt)
'A lot of strong emotions'
Earlier this month an online influencer drew criticism after filming herself boasting about feeding a crocodile at Babinda south of Cairns.
In Queensland, a person can be fined a maximum of $26,615 if they are caught intentionally feeding a crocodile.
Last month the government introduced penalising anyone caught unintentionally feeding crocodiles by discarding fish frames and bait.
Crocwise principal project officer Bradley Cooper says even after decades of education campaigns, slogans and signage, ways to improve safety messaging are being explored as more people venture into remote areas.
Warning signs, such as this one at Ingham, are just one of the tools authorities are using to keep the public safe. (ABC North Qld: Rachael Merritt)
"It's obviously a very political, controversial and contentious subject — crocodiles always generate a lot of strong emotions," he says
"Obviously social media has got a big role to play … and things like getting Crocwise messages into local languages for Cape York and Torres Strait."
Mr Cooper says the new laws will help to deter people from careless behaviour, but a holistic approach is required.
"I think we have to remember that it's not the solution — it's a tool in the toolbox," he says.
"It does need to be complemented by other things, like education."