ANGLING: griffith LANDS two Sixgill Sharks over 1,000lb on Same DAY

Andrew Griffith shocked himself with his latest catches.

Fishing in Ireland, the Canterbury angler landed three sixgill sharks, including two granders on the same day, which he claims has never been done before.

He said: “I caught and released the first one which was 14 feet long with an estimated weight of 1,150lb, and then hauled in another 18-footer weighing 1,400lb.

“Two in one day and it’s mind blowing because it’s in the British Isles.”

He added: “This is such a significant personal achievement to have caught and released four shark species over 100lb.

“It also makes me the only angler in the British Isles to have landed six sea species over 100lb.”

Members of Greenhill SAC went to Deal pier on Saturday evening to fish for the Ashby Cup and the Mark Mcarthur Memorial Trophy.

The catch-and-release competition was won by Simon Stephenson with 78 fish, mostly pouting and dogfish, weighing 17lb.

Second place went to Raymond Phillips with seven dogfish weighing 8lb, which just relegated his father Ray to third place with his 6lb 7oz.

Raymond’s son Freddie was top junior with 19 pouting weighing 3lb 8oz. The six-yearold took fifth place overall.

The heaviest fish, a dogfish, was caught by Mike Terry, which weighed 1lb 6oz. The next competition is on June 17 at Gravesend, fishing from 4.30-9.30pm. For more information, contact either Dennis Foreman on 01227 742284 or denforeman@ hotmail.co.uk, or Mike Terry on 07884 294055 or email michaelterry160@ yahoo.com. Herne Bay AA held a competition at Deal beach on Saturday where 25 members fished in flat calm conditions. Andy Manning, fishing at the Sandown Castle end, won with five fish including the largest of the competition, a smoothound weighing 4.26lb to give him an aggregate weight of 11.05lb.

Many of the fish caught were some distance from the shore which favoured the long-range casters and this was reflected in the weights.

In second place was Robert Bates with 6.56lb followed by Saul Page (5.48lb), who were both fishing near the 1919 club.

The club’s May skate competition was fished by 63 anglers with 18 weighing-in. It was topped by Ashley Brown with a skate of 9.475lb, followed by Rob Bates with 8.655lb and Sam Hudson close behind with 8.435lb.

The skate have now moved offshore but smoothounds up to 9lb are being caught at the Kings Hall beach and at the Reculver railings, particularly after dark, as are small bass.