THE crocodile believed responsible for the death of spearfisherman Warren Hughes in Innisfail has been killed.

Wildlife officers captured the animal at the mouth of the Russell River just south of where the Cairns man, 35, was reported missing on Saturday.

The crocodile was tracked at 10pm last night during a night patrol coordinated by the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection and Queensland Police. The animal has been euthanised by wildlife officers.

“It is believed to be the same crocodile wildlife officers pursued in the area on Monday night, they located it but it submerged and stayed out of sight,” said Environment Minister Dr Steven Miles.

“I want to thank our incredible team of wildlife officers who do a difficult, and in cases like this, very dangerous job

“I also want to thank QPS for their assistance and the local community for their cooperation in staying away from the area while EHP wildlife officers pursued the animal."

An attempt to remove the animal was unsuccessful on Monday night after they found it near the same location.

"Wildlife officers followed the crocodile for approximately two hours before it submerged,” EHP northern wildlife chief Dr Matt Brien said.

“It is not unusual for removal efforts to take time but we are confident that this particular animal will not evade capture for long.”

The animal charged a police boat on Sunday night as a search team attempted to find the body of Hughes, who had been spearfishing about 200 metres off shore near Palmer Point.

A trap has also been set in the Johnstone River for the crocodile that grabbed 18-year-old Lee De Paauw by the arm after he jumped in the water to impress a backpacker.