Cushendun Beach, 23 April - ***SHARK SIGHTING***

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glengormley-gavin

Cushendun Beach, 23 April - ***SHARK SIGHTING***

#1 Post by glengormley-gavin »

People: Me

Duration: 13.15 - 17.00

Tide: HT 15.37

Weather: Moderate SE and showers, very warm though...

Bait:Rag, mack sand-eel

Rigs: Flappers, 2 hook clipped and pulleys

Results: 1 Sea Trout 2.5 - 3lb

Catch and Release:: Sorry but NO on this occassion



Report:
I am down at the caravan for a few days with the family, the wife let me go fishing for a few hours on Monday - HAPPY DAYS and what a time to go.

I took up my usual spot on the beach and had the entire place to myself, I wasn't expecting much during the day as this is a far better venue at night.

I fished a rod in close and another out at around 50yds (wind was hampering casting badly..) Things were very quiet for the first hour and I was spending most of the time trying different rigs and baits.

During a break for coffee I was looking out towards the horizon and spotted something about 60 - 70yds out, at first I thought it was a seal because I have been tortured by them in the past on this beach, I looked again and realised it was anything but a seal..... I could clearly see a dark coloured fin sticking up out of the water (8 - 12" high), I thought there were two fins but on reflection it must have been the tail.

I was in a state of shock because this could only have been a shark - it swam from left to right paralell to the beach, then turned and swam right to left, the whole time, it's fin and tail were out of the water. He then disappeared off beyond the headland and didn't show again....

For the doubters out there - it wasn't a seal, dolphin or porpoise and I was sober. A bloody shark on Cushendun beach!!!!! I'm still freaked out by that one.

Anyway, back to the fishing - I had almost given up after witnessing that.... I thought my chances of landing anything were now extreme because the shark would have scared away all the fish but I managed to pull a nice sea-trout just yards from the beach on sand-eel.

Apologies for keeping the fish, this is the only fish (bar mackeral) I have taken home in my 3 years sea fishing. I had it for lunch today and he was very, very tasty.

I have taken a picture on my camera phone of fin in the water - just trying to work out how to get it onto the computer but I don't think it will convice any doubters because it was at 60 yard+ from where I was standing......

Jude
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Drew
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#2 Post by Drew »

Possibly a Small Basking Shark...
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#3 Post by Jonny »

I'd tend to agree with you on that one Drew.
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#4 Post by Drew »

That's a first.... :P :lol:
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#5 Post by beachcaster »

yip ,have to agree a basking shark,no doubt.
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#6 Post by Jonny »

Look it dosen't matter I'll just agree with John instead. :evil: :lol: :lol:
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#7 Post by boycie89 »

YEP !! must be a basking shark !!
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#8 Post by beachcaster »

read report some where about basking sharks being in strangford lough 3-4 weeks early because of an early bloom of plankton.cant remember where i read it though,they where about 14ft in length.
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#9 Post by MC »

read the same report beachcaster it was on the bbc news page, cant find link at minute, but i wll guess it was a basking shark
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ROADRUNNER

#10 Post by ROADRUNNER »

You Guys are all wrong did ye never see " were going to need a bigger boat" :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Conor C

#11 Post by Conor C »

sweet sea trout jude
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#12 Post by Ryan »

Have seen some Blue shark in close along the north coast before, haven't seen a Basking shark along the coast for years.
If it was a small basking shark its good to see them around.
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#13 Post by Norfolk and Goode »

Jude have you been on the wacky backy again??? :lol: :lol: :lol:

Only joking matey :wink:

Nice sea trout alright. 8)

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glengormley-gavin

#14 Post by glengormley-gavin »

Some further info received to back up this sighting.

I was talking to the caravan site manager's husband who regularly fishes from the boat in this area.

He has seen several Basking Sharks in this area over recent years - although not this close in.....

They usually apppear 1 - 1.5hrs before and after high water....

Keep yer eyes peeled along the Antrim Coast lads.....

Jude
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stevie rea

#15 Post by stevie rea »

Me, two friends and a passer by seen a baskin shark while we were fishing the rocks at glenarm on the nearside of the nets must have been about two months ago! quite a big one at that...........
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#16 Post by Lee337 »

glengormley-gavin wrote:He has seen several Basking Sharks in this area over recent years - although not this close in.....

They usually apppear 1 - 1.5hrs before and after high water....

Keep yer eyes peeled along the Antrim Coast lads.....

Jude


So where do I gather plankton to use as bait? And more tricky - how do I get them on the hook :lol: :lol: :lol:

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#17 Post by Spurs_boy »

Spotted one close in at Torr Head last weekend..
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