S19U7P1ERGRAN’S MASSIVE MAKO! -1971

SHARK fishing is now accessible to all, boats out of several ports around the coast giving the casual angler the chance to do battle with blues, porbeagles and makos.

In the early 1970s, though, the chance to go sharking was rare indeed – but Norwich grandmother Joyce Yallop grabbed her opportunity with both hands to boat a monster 500lb mako! A Shark Angling Club of Great Britain member, Joyce was fishing with her husband from Alan Dingle’s boat Lady Betty around the Eddystone Reef in Cornwall when the skipper spotted a large fin and moved in for a closer look. Joyce was on the rods like a flash and her whole mackerel hookbait was soon taken.

That signalled the start of a two and a half hour battle. The fish is still a record for the line class, and at the time was the biggest shark ever from European waters.