( CNN ) -- A surfer was killed Saturday in a shark attack off the coast of Australia , at least the fifth such attack in less than a year . The man had been surfing just south of Wedge Island in Western Australia when he was taken by what is believed to be a great white , the Department of Fisheries said in a statement . The identity and age of the victim were not immediately released . Authorities were still searching for his remains . `` When last seen the shark was heading offshore , but we have placed baited lines in the water near the attack site , in an attempt to catch the shark should it return to the location or pose a threat in the area , '' said Tony Cappelluti , spokesman for the department 's Shark Response Unit . Some area beaches were closed after the incident , but no further shark sightings have been reported . The stretch of water along Western Australia 's southern coast is one of the deadliest for shark attacks . Three people were mauled in the water in September and October , while a fourth was taken in March while diving with his brother about one nautical mile off Stratham Beach . More people were killed by sharks along that southern coast than anywhere else in the world in 2011 , according to the International Shark Attack File . `` Certainly for Australia , and Western Australia in particular , I would say that five deaths from shark attacks in less than 12 months is very unusual , '' said Cappelluti . He declined to say what might be behind the attacks , but said a lot of research is being done on the subject and that authorities hope to have more information soon . Still , others manage to come face-to-face with the aquatic creatures and live to tell the tale . Nathan Podmore and his friend were spear fishing off the coast of Western Australia , south of Perth , recently when they came across a 12-foot-long shark . `` It was n't in attack mode . It was more curious , '' he told CNN 's Fredricka Whitfield . He said he and his friend fended it off before getting back to their boat . `` I always said that I would like to see one . ... No , but , I never want to see another one in the water . It 's nuts , '' Podmore said .
NEW : Authorities are still searching for the victim 's remains . The Associated Press contributed to this report. The surfer is believed to have been taken by a great white . The stretch off Western Australia 's southern coast is one of the deadliest for shark attacks .