British Measured and Released Record Confirmed
The Shark Angling Club of Great Britain have great pleasure in confirming a new British Measured & Released Record for a Blue Shark, caught and released by John Dines.
The fish measured 106” from the nose to the fork of the tail, had a girth of 44 “and was caught during a sharking trip aboard Robin “Chippy” Chapmans boat off Penzance. The Measured and Released Record criteria is the combined length and girth of the fish. Johns fish will therefore be recorded as a Blue Shark of 150”. Using the formula this would give an estimated weight of 256.5lbs. A tremendous fish whatever measure we use.
For a number of years John and his sharking mates have made an annual pilgrimage to fish with Chippy. This year’s trip started well with 44 fish being caught and released on day one. Among them a 129lb male Blue and 144lb female Blue.
These fish were the “little cousins” of what was to follow…….
On day two Johns ratchet gave that sound we all live for as the fish took the mackerel flapper bait and headed off. The first run stripped over 400 yards of line and with around only 50 yards left on the spool John did well to turn it. What followed was an hour and a half long battle during which the fish made 6 more long runs. It was clear from the first run that this was an exceptional fish. The first sighting came within 40 minutes and John then realised the full scale of the task. It took another 50 minutes to get the fish to the point where it could be safely brought aboard
For many years now responsible anglers like John have refused to kill and land sharks to be able to claim a record. In 2016 Nick Lane caught and released a Thresher estimated at 360lbs. Danny Fitch caught and released a Blue estimated at 240 lbs in the same year. It was actions like these and those of many other anglers which inspired the Shark Angling Club of Great Britain to introduce the British Measured & Released Record. This provided the platform for the sport to enable big fish to be recognised and encourage competition between anglers and skippers alike. It also supported the SACGB policy of shark conservation.
The community of shark anglers should be proud of their actions in releasing so many fish and resisting the temptation to seek glory through the demise of such magnificent fish.
The club are now considering Johns Line Class Record claim so more to come on this one, so for now John, congratulations and respect from the Shark Angling Club of Great Britain