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  • 20/04/2017 Fishing Report by Shaun Collins-Lindsay on Reel Deal (Watchet, Somerset)

    20 Apr 2017 by Shaun Collins-Lindsay

    Report on-board Reel Deal

    On the 20 April Clive and myself set off from Hampshire heading for North Devon to go fishing for Porbeagle sharks the closest realitive to the Great White. The day was perfect slightly over cast with light winds and a light tide. We arrived at Ilfracombe and met up with Dan our skipper on Reel Deal. We set off on our journey heading south towards Lundy Island, once we were past the Island Dan Checked the drift while the tackle was being set up. 6 rods were put over the side all set at different depths, the chum buckets were put out and the slick flattens the water nicely with all the dead baits sitting perfectly in the slick, it now was a waiting game. Whilst we were waiting for the either a screaming reel or waiting to see our floats start bobbing we started fishing for Pollock and Mackerel. A couple off Pollock were caught, Dan said that we were about to approach the reef were he would expect to catch a Shark. He wasn't wrong Dan noticed the middle float disappear, it was on and the battle started. This was a big Porbeagle she made lots of big runs but as we had a small team on board we all shared the pain. The way this shark was fighting Dan knew we were into a really big Porbeagle Shark, this fish would turn out to be the biggest fish that I have ever landed topping my black Marlin from Kenya. So after an hour and half of being beaten up by this powerful shark, she had tired and I was given the honours to bring her up to the boat. After a couple of desperate runs she came up to the boat, when she surfaced everyone was flabbergasted at the size of her, this Porbeagle was full of pup and massive in the range of 450lbs - 500lbs. Dan was going to tag her but as she had put up such a spirited fight we all agreed to release her straight away with out putting any more stress on her. She swam away from the boat perfectly back to the depths. So straight back into the fishing hoping to catch another monster it wasn't long until one broke the surface swimming around our floats , again everyone waiting in anticipation for those reels to start screaming but nothing happened, the hours past and we were just about to head for home when one of the reels started screaming the fight was on, this fish was using the boat to its advantage giving me a merry dance around the boat but after 15 Mins this shark managed to shake the hook. This was a fantastic day on board Reel Deal with a great skipper Dan Hawkins who put us on the Shark and what a Shark it was. Porbeagle 450lbs - 500lbs

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