Having only just recovered from boating what I thought would be my catch of the season I ended up outdoing myself a couple of days later. I was fishing the same area as mentioned in my last report but this time I was using an experimental bait which I may reveal details about in the future after I have tested it for a bit longer.
I dropped the bait to the bottom and on what was a hot, sunny day (for Ireland anyway) I set myself up to play the waiting game. After sitting it out for quite a while and with thoughts of heading home starting to enter my mind, a fish finally found the bait. The reel screamed as the tope picked up my offering and headed for the horizon.
Within a very short space of time I knew that this fish was going to be considerably bigger than the last. She ran further than any tope I have ever connected with before and she was a real struggle to bring to the side of the kayak. The 30lb class gear was stretched to its limits, my knots were very well tested and I prayed that nothing was going to give as I slowly pumped the huge fish towards me.
With Herculean effort I managed to get her on board, remove the hook and pose for the camera before holding her in the water until she regained her strength and swam away. A great catch and one that will stay with me for ever.
I have no idea what the fish weighed, I don’t like putting estimates on catches like this. People have guessed at anything from 50lb+ to 90lb+. There is talk of it being a possible Irish record for the species. I’m not sure about that but one thing I do know is that as far as I am aware, it is the biggest fish landed by a kayak angler in Irish waters to date. Have a look at the pictures and see what you think for yourselves……..
