A warm inshore current, a high concentration of baitfish and an overcast, early-morning sky would have provided prime feeding conditions for the large bronze whaler shark believed responsible for Thursday's fatal attack.
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Experienced fishermen on Friday expressed shock and deep sadness at what is believed to be the first fatal shark attack on the NSW south coast.
Fishing writer and host of WIN's Fishing Australia, Rob Paxevanos, who has fished south coast waters for 30 years, said the news gave him goose bumps.
''It's extremely sad news. It's terrible to hear that about a fellow ocean lover,'' he said.
Paxevanos said it was the time of year for sharks - when the water is at its warmest, with plentiful bait.
''A number of sharks come down from the north - tigers, oceanic whalers, they typically come down in the east Australian current. They follow the warm water and bait schools,'' he said.
The sea surface temperature on the south coast has been as high as 25 degrees in parts in recent weeks - unusually warm for this time of year.
Huge schools of baitfish have also been reported in water close to shore along the coast. While it is likely the warm water and baitfish attracted the bronze whaler close to Tathra wharf, Paxevanos said several shark species can be found in south coast waters all year round.
''There are great whites on the coast and you see them any time of the year,'' Paxevanos said.
''You can minimise the risk [of attack] by not swimming at dawn or dusk and by avoiding bait schools and murky water. You can minimise the risk, but not eliminate it.''
Bill Deveril, who operates Fishpen Charters out of Merimbula, was also shocked by the news.
''Horrible, it's horrible. I'm so upset over the poor woman and her family,'' Mr Deveril said. ''Those people had been swimming back and forth for 14 years and nothing has ever happened.
''My son swims in that [Tathra Wharf to Waves] race every year.''
Bega Valley Shire mayor Bill Taylor said Thursday's tragedy was a shock for the community and an extremely unusual event.
''It is very much a personal tragedy for Mr Armstrong and his immediate family and friends who were with them at the time,'' Mr Taylor said.
''I was born close to Tathra and have lived here most of my life; I can't recall a shark attack on our beaches.''
He would not be drawn on the controversial issue of shark fishing off Tathra Wharf, saying only that the council had banned the practice and it did enforce the ban.
''Our focus now is on giving people involved in the search the support they need, giving the immediate family … space,'' he said.
