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Canterbury angler Andrew Griffith hooks 6ft shark in catch of a lifetime
17:00, 24 July 2013
updated: 17:05, 24 July 2013
Canterbury angler Andrew Griffith is celebrating after landing the catch of a lifetime – hauling in the first mako shark caught in UK waters for more than 40 years.
The shark angler hooked a six-foot, 194lb mako on a boat trip 30 miles off the Welsh coast and has been credited with a record as it was the first mako ever caught in Welsh waters.
On an incredible day, Griffith first hauled in nine blue sharks – the last of which tipped the scales at 120lb – then a 119lb porbeagle shark, before the mako which is the fastest shark in the world and the third part of the "Grand Slam" of UK shark fishing.
Mr Griffith said: "It really is a career catch. It's a piece of history and as such there was a lot of pressure on me when we were trying to bring it in.
"The first we knew was when the reel went wild and then we knew it was a mako when it jumped 15 feet out of the water and somersaulted before a depth-charge.
"It took about 40 minutes to get it into the boat."
He added: "Only 63 makos have ever been caught in UK waters before and no angler has ever caught all three on the same day anywhere in the world before. It's another proud record for me. It's caused quite a stir in the fishing community."
Mr Griffith is planning a return trip next month after spotting an even bigger mako in the water during his duel with the 194lb-er.
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