NT wildlife ranger Michael Kessner was enjoying a day off on the weekend fishing for barra in the Victoria River at Timber Creek, near the NT/WA border.
And up popped a massive crocodile.
"There were people who had swimming in the area, even washing their clothes on the water's edge," his wife Stacey said today.
Stacey and daughter Charli (7) popped down to the Katherine NT Parks and Wildlife depot today to see the 4.4 metre beast for themselves.
"To think people were swimming there with that about," she said.
Ranger Chris Heydon said after the sighting on Saturday from one of their own, they baited a trap in the same area near the Victoria River boat ramp at Timber Creek on Monday night.
Sure enough the croc took the bait and was duly trapped yesterday.
Today the big male croc, who would have been longer than his official measurement but he was missing a good chunk of his tail, passed through Katherine on his way to a croc farm.
"People just have to start listening, don't swim in these rivers," ranger Chris said.
Ranger John Burke said because of the poor wet season there would have been fewer crocodiles "moving about".
"But don't worry, look at the size of this one, they are still in there."