Young lads
First blues for Griffith’s boys (8 and 10)
catch big sharks!
ANDY Griffith’s passion for catching huge fish runs in the family – his two sons have boated their first blue sharks in an action-packed day targeting the species.
Adrenaline junkie Andy, from Kent, is reckoned to be one of the best shark anglers in the country with no fewer than six world records to his name – but this time his challenge was to help his two sons, Harry and Ben, catch their first-ever sharks.
Speaking exclusively to Angling Times, Andy described the day out on the boat with his lads.
He said: “After I’d caught three threshers in a single day, Harry and Ben were eager for me to take them out to catch their own sharks. We had this trip booked with Andrew Alsop of White Water Charters, originally to target tope, but the weather was so good we decided to head out into the Celtic Deeps off the coast of Wales.
“After a fairly slow start we spotted a ‘free swimmer’ in the chum trail and Andrew began to hand-feed it mackerel cutlets.
“Soon afterwards it dived away to the nearest mackerel hookbait, the float went under and Sam was hooked into his first blue.
“He’s only eight, but after a 20-minute battle he managed to get the 70lb-estimated shark to the side of the boat, and Andrew agreed to bring it on board for a quick photo.”
With Sam’s fish unhooked and released it was soon Harry’s turn, and it didn’t take long for another float to shoot under the surface.
“While battling his blue, Harry said he didn’t realise how strong they were and announced he was getting a little out of breath,” Andy added.
“Despite being just 10 years old he still managed to get the shark to the side of the boat – another fantastic blue weighing in the 60lb-75lb bracket.
“As before, we agreed on a photo on deck and a quick release – the boys just couldn’t stop smiling.
“They had achieved their first blue sharks at the tender ages of eight and 10 – I had to wait until I was 37 for my first blue. I am incredibly proud of them both.”