Tope numbers continue to fall
New research has revealed that the numbers of tope off the Scottish coast could be in serious decline.
More than 50 boats and 20 kayaks took part in the recent annual Sharkatag event, fishing in the name of research in South West Scotland.
Worryingly, the catch rate of tope declined for the third year running and no rays other than thornbacks were landed.
Sharkatag is run by the Scottish Shark Tagging Programme (SSTP) and Ian Burrett, the Scottish Sea Angling Network’s Project Director, told local press that it was not known whether overfishing or a change in the tope’s northern migration route was to blame for the trend.
So close to a record ray!
While fishing one of the vast sandbanks off the Dorset coast, Toby White came within a whisker of boating a new British record undulate ray after catching this fine specimen weighing in at 20lb 1oz.
The handsome fish, which took a mackerel flapper bait trailing off a running leger rigfalls just 1lb 3oz short of equalling the British boat-caught record for the species.
It was beaten with a 30lb class outfit while Toby was fishing aboard Top Cat 3, skippered by Weymouth skipper Ivan Wellington.
Switch in tide leads to big ray action
A switch in tides can mean the difference between success and failure in sea fishing, as postman Gary Buckley found on a recent trip out of Wallasea Island, Essex.
After a largely uneventful few hours, the 46-year-old, who is a member of the brilliantly-named Rayleigh Codfathers club, then latched into a superb 20lb thornback ray while fishing aboard the Sabre, skippered by Steve Hills.
The Ashingdon angler, who used a herring bait on a 3/0 circle hook off a 35lb trace, said: “The first part of the trip was very slow but when the tide changed we had 18 fish in the boat!”
Big ray boosts Cornish best
A personal best thornback ray of 12lb 12oz was the highlight of a late evening session for Somerset angler Glen Cornish.
The Taunton angler caught the fish from a Minhead beach using a pulley rig armed with 7/0 hooks and baited with whole unwashed squid and half the side of a bluey.
“It’s fish like this that make it all worthwhile,” said Glen, who returned the fish unharmed.
