Long line trip lands 70 shark

CORNISH fisherman Martin Ellis, famed in JED Productions' video Troubled Waters, landed almost 70 porbeagle shark to Newlyn fish market last Tuesday.

He set off on a long line trip to catch sharks aboard his vessel Prevail, only 24 hours before.

Jed Trewin of JED Productions, who filmed the 60 plus sharks being offloaded from Martin's vessel, said "Martin was elated. He told me he was 'down to the gunwales with sharks' as soon as his mobile phone could contact the shore. He caught almost 70 from just 300 baited hooks."

All sharks were received well by Newlyn export fish merchants, first sale prices on Newlyn fish market ranged from £1.60/kg to £2.10/kg. Auctioneer and merchant Robin Turner said it's not unusual to see good landings of porbeagle sharks at this time of year. Those fish can reach 500lb.

"At present the sea water is simply full of feed fish, small midwater species like sprats, sandeels and others, attracting bigger fish that in turn attract shark. It has been a prolific year in some areas off the Westcountry shores, the abundance of porbeagle shark has been noteable this year. We have seen a lot landed to the fish market from mono netters," he added.

Martin Ellis said: "I think more boats should follow this type of long line fishing and that the skippers should communicate more to locate the fish. There is a fleet of French long line boats that successfully work the Bristol Channel each year searching for porbeagle shark."

Western Morning News - 1st December 2003