He may have found an elusive stonefish in a popular swimming spot but Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate's fishing expedition isn't over.
The potentially deadly fish was located on Thursday afternoon at Evandale Lake in Surfers Paradise, weeks after it had been caught on camera.
The juvenile fish was pulled from the lake just days into council's draining of the waterway.
And while the animal's location was a relief for Mr Tate, he isn't convinced it was the only stonefish in the lake.
"We'll continue to drain because the way I look at it, they come in pairs and we'll be looking for another one should there be another one," he said.
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The stonefish hasn't been the sole creature of the deep located since the draining operation began on Tuesday with a one-metre barracuda also caught and relocated to the nearby Broadwater.
The stonefish, which has dorsal spines packed with a powerful poison, will now be sent to James Cook University in Townsville to be milked as part of an anti-venom development program.
Mr Tate said the fish's capture justified capture attempts which will cost over $120,000 and have included divers and nets before the draining operation.
Council will use the draining to refurbish the lakebed and upgrade the surrounding park.
"I've copped a lot of flak about overdoing it but we tried every value-for-money option and safety comes first, I can only imagine any young child who might step on it, that could be fatal," he said.
Mr Tate said he expected the lake to remain closed for another two weeks while the draining and refurbishment is undertaken.
