TERRIFIC TREBLE OF TOPE IN MATCH
Two anglers had an amazing session during a club match when they caught three tope weighing more than 35lb.
Mike Grantham, of Southern Angling Specialists tackle shop in Chichester, West Sussex, and his pal Ryan Ruff were fishing at nearby Bracklesham Bay in a local league event organised by Mike.
Both of Mike’s tope were caught on Bluey baits fished on a Pennell pulley-dropper rig. The first, at 38lb 6oz, came an hour before high tide, the second at 38lb 8oz at the top of the tide at 9pm. He also caught seven smoothhounds on frozen peeler crabs.
“I’ve fished for tope over the last few years and especially this year with no luck, but to get two in one night was incredible,”said Mike.
There was also a 35lb 12oz tope at the next peg for Ryan Ruff, who also caught three hounds. Mike and Ryan were the top anglers in the match, but other anglers caught big hauls of hounds, including Joe Clear who had four double-figure fish.
“It was an incredible night where it just went right for once. When I started the league I dreamed of a night like this, and after some real gruellers I wasn’t sure it was going to come. I think this was the pinnacle of my fishing because I’ve spent years trying to get a tope off the beach,” said Ryan.
At Selsey, a pulley rig baited with mackerel produced an ‘epic fight’ with a 38lb 8oz tope for Keith Ide, of Burgess Hill, West Sussex.
In Cumbria, Stefan Bartzsch, of Barrow-inFurness, caught a 21lb 8oz tope on Bluey fillet while beach fishing at Walney Island.