walshie Posted August 14, 2020 Report Share Posted August 14, 2020 We went out for a few hours this afternoon after some mackerel. The first spot we tried had joey mackerel attacking the rig before it had got even halfway down. We were bringing in strings of 5 every time we dropped a line over. We moved out about 1/4 mile and the average size increased to mostly fair sized fish. We caught plenty to eat and were thinking of heading back when I felt the tell tale twitch of a mackerel attacking the feather. Winding up it felt like decent size one when all of a sudden my line shot off to the left. It felt like I'd hooked a submarine. I only had a 12-20lb rod and 30lb line as we weren't expecting anything except 1lb mackerel at most. Whatever this was slowed and turned but was still taking line against the clutch. I wound the clutch up a bit and I could feel the fish diving for the bottom. In all my time fishing i have never felt anything as heavy or strong as this as the rod went from pointing nearly skyward to the tip in the water with each lunge. After about 5 minutes I thought I was winning. Pump, pump, tiny bit more clutch....... And the rod broke. I nearly fell over but my biggest concern was if I could land this monster or at least get it to the surface with half a rod. It was still on the end of my line bit 30 seconds later, the line went slack and it was gone. I thought the biggest thing in the bay was bass, but this was no bass. I wonder what it was. We'll never know now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandspider Posted August 14, 2020 Report Share Posted August 14, 2020 Maybe you did catch a mackerel, then something else (shark?!) caught the mackerel too on the way up! Was the line snapped or bitten through? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshie Posted August 14, 2020 Author Report Share Posted August 14, 2020 5 minutes ago, sandspider said: Maybe you did catch a mackerel, then something else (shark?!) caught the mackerel too on the way up! Was the line snapped or bitten through? I think something took the mackerel yes. Line was broken above the snaplink holding the feather trace, so don't know if it was bitten or broken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strimmer_13 Posted August 14, 2020 Report Share Posted August 14, 2020 Tope mate. They come in close there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39TDS Posted August 14, 2020 Report Share Posted August 14, 2020 Seal in my experience Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted August 14, 2020 Report Share Posted August 14, 2020 (edited) Great White sharks sighted off Cornwall in the past week . Numerous sightings from fishermen. becoming a yearly event now Edited August 14, 2020 by Vince Green Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houseplant Posted August 14, 2020 Report Share Posted August 14, 2020 Sharks live in the sea. In breaking news, bear sh*ts in the woods 🤣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treetree Posted August 15, 2020 Report Share Posted August 15, 2020 On 14/08/2020 at 22:37, Vince Green said: Great White sharks sighted off Cornwall in the past week . Numerous sightings from fishermen. becoming a yearly event now Where? How far from the shore? Is this for real? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Houseplant Posted August 15, 2020 Report Share Posted August 15, 2020 I follow these things quite closely. Lots of stories in The Sun etc every summer, it sells newspapers, but no documented evidence. Regardless, if you look at a map of the established worldwide distribution of great whites, it would be a surprise if they didn't visit British waters. They have a large range and can cross the seas from one continent to another; they are also tolerant of a wide range of water temperatures. British summertime water temperature is similar to places in Australasia and South Africa where great whites are common. The seal colonies of the south coast and the northeast would be obvious locations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted August 16, 2020 Report Share Posted August 16, 2020 (edited) 9 hours ago, treetree said: Where? How far from the shore? Is this for real? On the Cornwall Live news website last week. As houseplant said there are sightings every year but I don't think one has ever been caught. Been sightings off the East Coast of USA too Apparantly the greatest concentration of great whites might be in the med which is scarey Edited August 16, 2020 by Vince Green Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Merkel Posted August 16, 2020 Report Share Posted August 16, 2020 I read about this a couple of years ago and found this on youtube if its of interest about visiting great whites. MM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treetree Posted August 16, 2020 Report Share Posted August 16, 2020 Well I had my shorts tugged on by a seal while swimming last week. He then popped up 6ft away from me. The head on the beast was unreal, it was like staring at a massive swimming pit-bull. We stared at each other, then he made an explosive dive under the water at which point I headed for shore at a speed i wasn't aware I was capable of. I see them eveytime I go fishing, but to be in the water and so close to one (and being pulled on) is not something I'm keen for again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandspider Posted August 18, 2020 Report Share Posted August 18, 2020 Pier fishing in Falmouth many years ago (more than I care to remember) I was winding in a rather nice garfish on the surface when the local seal (Sidney) popped out of the water not far off the quay and took the gar off my hook, neat as you please. I can't have been more than 10 years old and I remember it clearly still. Good times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remimax Posted August 18, 2020 Report Share Posted August 18, 2020 yep i'd second a Tope got hold of yer mackerel not uncommon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoolinDalton Posted August 22, 2020 Report Share Posted August 22, 2020 I went out mackerel fishing on the pier...first time there since decades ago...and was talking to a guy who regularly fishes off the promenade and also boats. He said that the seals, of which there are dozens, that have made their home on a tidal creek two miles away, have learned to spot the rods bending (with a mackerel on) and then they head towards the rod and find the hooked mackerel. The angler pulls up a head...minus the body! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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