'It was just like Jaws': Angler on kayak is dragged nearly two kilometres out to sea after hooking 1.8m shark off Devon coast

A vet fishing from a kayak was dragged nearly two kilometres out to sea after hooking a 1.8 metre shark.

Rupert Kirkwood, 51, was towed around for 15 minutes after a 31.7kg shark took his bait and headed for the deep.

He had been fishing 1.6 kilometres off the coast of Ilfracombe, North Devon, in his 4.8metre kayak when he hooked the 31.7kg shark.

Catch of the day

The angler said he had been sitting in his vessel for about four hours before he felt a huge pull on the line and his canoe 'suddenly shot off through the water'

'It was pretty hair-raising stuff. I had been sitting there for about four hours before I felt a huge pull on the line and my canoe suddenly shot off through the water.

'These creatures are known to do a runner and it's just like Jaws - the line flew off the reel.  I just had to hold on and wait for it to tire. Eventually it did, and I was able to lean in the water and pull it on board.

The Tope shark was released back into the water unharmed.  Rupert added: 'It was thrilling to catch something that big and knocks spots off anything I have landed before.

'It was amazing to catch such a large specimen and was a real rush.'

Tope Shark are found all around the world and generally live further out into the sea but can come in close to the shore. They sometimes live in small schools and are listed as a vulnerable species.

The father-of-four, who also works as a farm vet, has been kayak fishing for around ten years and landed the shark using mackerel bait.   The Tope was released unharmed back into the sea.

 

 

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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2042313/Fisherman-kayak-dragged-half-mile-sea-hooked-SHARK-Devon-coast.html#ixzz1ZFSEL5fV