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The latest information on Mako Shark captures - 15/07/19

This list of Mako's was made originally by the late David Turner working with Ian Harbage who has continued the work to list all mako captures in the UK. As you will see there are many where the information is far from complete and if you know of anything, or indeed any others, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Mako Sharks Caught on Rod and Line in British Waters by Ian Harbage

No

DATE

PORT

ANGLER

SKIPPER

BOAT

WEIGHT

NOTES

1

15/6/1951

LOOE

JOHN EATHORNE

BILL BUTTERS

JACK BUTTERS

PAULA

300LB

FEMALE/PHOTO/

TRUE MAKO CAUGHT BEFORE SPECIES WAS IDENTIFIED IN BRITISH WATERS. JOHN’S WIFE HETTY HAD THE FIRST IDENTIFIED MAKO ON 25/8/55.

2

 8/7/54

LOOE

MR MILES

BILL BUTTERS

JACK BUTTERS

PAULA

230LB

MALE/PHOTO/

TRUE MAKO CAUGHT BEFORE SPECIES WAS IDENTIFIED IN BRITISH WATERS

3

25/8/55

LOOE

HETTY EATHORNE

BILL BUTTERS

LITTLE ONE

352LB

MALE/PHOTO

1ST MAKO TO BE IDENTIFIED IN BRITISH WATERS WHEN TEETH WERE SENT TO THE I.G.F.A.

4

1956

B BONSOL

254LB

5

MID/LATE 50’s

MEVAGISSEY

250LB

AUTHENTICATED BY TREVOR HOUSBY IN HIS BOOK DREAM FISHING.

6

4/7/56

LOOE

A M SIMPSON

BILL BUTTERS

JACK BUTTERS

PAULA

335.5LB

MALE/PHOTO MR SIMPSONS 1ST MAKO IN BRITISH WATERS.

7

1956

LOOE

E DAWSON

129LB

8

31/7/57

LOOE

W PORRITT

ALAN DINGLE

TALISMAN

164LB

MALE/PHOTO

9

  9/6/58

LOOE

S H HAMMOND

AB DINGLE

LADY BETTY

206LB

MALE/PHOTO

10

1958

LOOE

A M SIMPSON

BILL BUTTERS,JACK BUTTERS

PAULA

324LB

MALE/PHOTO

MR SIMPSON BECOMES THE 1ST ANGLER TO CATCH 2 MAKO’S IN BRITISH WATERS.

11

1959

LOOE

G S BOWLER

JACK BUTTERS

PAULA

250.5LB

MALE/PHOTO

12

10/7/59

LOOE

W BUTTLE

JACK SYMONS

BLOSSOM

343LB

13

16/7/59

LOOE

L H MELHUISH

BERT DINGLE

NAUTILUS

372LB

MALE/PHOTO

14

25/7/59

LOOE

ALAN DINGLE

TALISMAN

86LB

15

27/7/59

LOOE

E D VOYCE

RAY PENGELLY

IRENE

142LB

16

1960

FALMOUTH

VERNON GRAY

ROBIN VINNICOMBE

246LB

17

  2/6/60

LOOE

W E ELLIOTT

SUSIE

240LB

18

22/6/60

FALMOUTH

D A BUCKLAND

CLINTON POWELL

MOSS ROSE

384LB

MALE/PHOTO

19

28/6/60

LOOE

C E CHAPMAN

JACK SOADY

VALHALLA

132LB

20

29/6/60

LOOE

D J JARRETT

DAVE FLETCHER

ELLA

116LB

21

  8/7/60

LOOE

COLONEL W STEWERT

JACK SOADY

VALHALLA

240LBS

22

12/8/60

LOOE

G W FINN

JACK BUTTERS

PAULA

78LBS

23

16/9/60

FALMOUTH

MURRAY MEXTAN

CLINTON POWELL

MOSS ROSE

238LB

24

23/9/60

FOWEY

MIKE DIGBY

BLUE PHANTOM

160LB

25

1961

FALMOUTH

ROBIN VINNICOMBE

INTER-NOSS

306LB

26

20/6/61

FOWEY

DR WALTER BLOW

MIKE DIGBY

BLUE PHANTOM

376LB

MALE/PHOTO

27

10/7/61

LOOE

B CHAD-QUICK

JACK SOADY

VALHALLA

275LB

28

16/7/61

LOOE

A J FLYNN

L BUTTERS

SEABIRD

205LB

29

26/7/61

LOOE

D HARTAS

FRANK PRYN

GOLDEN SPRAY

342LB

MALE/PHOTO

30

12/9/61

LOOE

W E POULTNEY

JACK BUTTERS

PAULA

238LB

31

26/9/61

LOOE

JACK SEFTON

RAY PENGELLY

IRENE

428.5LB

MALE/PHOTO

32

15/6/62

LOOE

J ELLISON

345LB

33

19/6/62

LOOE

J HANSON

JACK BUTTERS

PAULA

427.5LB

MALE/PHOTO

34

JUNE 1962

FALMOUTH

ROBIN VINNICOMBE

INTER-NOS

140LB

35

20/8/62

B D HEARD

GUIDE ME

94LB

36

22/6/63

LOOE

B F STEVENS

RAY PENGELLEY

IRENE

385LB

MALE/PHOTO

37

23/6/63

LOOE

MR VAN HOUFT

AB DINGLE

LADY BETTY

281LB

38

  3/7/63

LOOE

J GOBLE

EDWARD TOMS

EILEEN

199LB

39

  9/7/63

LOOE

W SUMMER

IVAN CHASTON

RENEE

276LB

40

23/7/63

LOOE

T H SHEEN

B DINGLE

NAUTILUS

352LB

MALE/PHOTO

41

31/7/63

LOOE

M WALNE

EDGAR WILLIAMS

SILVER SPREY

313LB

FEMALE/PHOTO

ONE OF PAIR CAUGHT ON SAME DAY FROM LOOE

42

31/7/63

LOOE

C WATTS

JACK  SOADY

VALHALLA

291LB

MALE/PHOTO

ONE OF PAIR CAUGHT ON SAME DAY FROM LOOE

43

9/8/63

FALMOUTH

J E MACDONALD

ROBIN VINNICOMBE

INTER-NOS

334LB

PHOTO

44

1963

FALMOUTH

ROBIN VINNICOMBE

INTER-NOS

160LB

45

1963

FALMOTUH

ROBIN VINNICOMBE

INTER-NOS

437LB

46

27/6/64

LOOE

S G MILLER

JOHN KITTO

MAY QUEEN

435LB

MALE/PHOTO

47

28/6/64

FALMOUTH

W ROGERS

CLINTON POWELL

SWORDFISH

476LB

MALE/PHOTO

48

 7/7/64

FALMOUTH

J V STUBBLINGTON

ROBIN VINNICOMBE

INTER-NOS

240LB

49

 5/8/64

FALMOUTH

F COOK

ROBIN VINNICOMBE

INTER-NOS

449LB

MALE/PHOTO

50

1964

MEVAGISSEY

M FURNESS

EDDIE LAKEMAN

PENARE

370LB

PHOTO

51

1964

C CAPEL

278LB

52

JUNE 1965

FALMOUTH

TED BELSTEN

ROBIN VINNICOMBE

INTER-NOS

260LB

MALE/PHOTO

TED’S 1ST BRITISH MAKO.

53

  9/6/65

LOOE

R TURNER

BERT DINGLE

NAUTILUS

294LB

MALE/PHOTO

54

13/6/65

LOOE

A HILL

L BUTTERS

SEABIRD

296LB

MALE/PHOTO

55

SEPT 1965

FALMOUTH

LORD KIMBERLEY

ROBIN VINNICOMBE

HUNTRESS

390LB

MALE/PHOTO

56

25/8/65

C HANDLEY

BERT DINGLE

NAUTILUS

106LB

57

1965

R TURNER

294LB

58

UNKNOWN POSS MID 60s

PENZANCE

CLAUDE FARMER

DOLPHIN

222LB

FEMALE/PHOTO

59

29/6/66

FALMOUTH

PIERS STEYNOR

G CROSSLEY MEATES

FATHOMER

372LB

60

  2/7/66

LOOE

KEN BURGESS

RAY PENGELLY

IRENE

498.5LB

MALE/PHOTO

61

10/7/66

LOOE

N POLLITGER

DAVE FLETCHER

ELLA

293LB

62

14/7/66

FALMOUTH

D A CALLUM

W H S DUTFIELD

SUSAN JANE 2

98LB

63

1966

FALMOUTH

P STEYNER

396LB

64

1966

FALMOUTH

ROBIN VINNICOMBE

INTER-NOS

380LB

65

16/6/67

LOOE

K CHEETHAM

L BUTTERS

SEABIRD

400LB

MALE/PHOTO

66

JUNE 1967

FALMOUTH

BILL BOWDEN

ROBIN VINNICOMBE

HUNTRESS

336LB

MALE/PHOTO

67

4/7/67

SALCOMBE

B HEATH

D CREWS

CHASSEUR

350LB

MALE/ PHOTO

68

JULY 1967

FALMOUTH

TED BELSTEN

ROBIN VINNICOMBE

HUNTRESS

410LB

MALE/PHOTO. TED BECOMES 2ND ANGLER TO CATCH TWO MAKOS’ IN BRITISH WATERS.

69

JULY 1967

FALMOUTH

ROBIN VINNICOMBE

HUNTRESS

214LB

70

JULY 1967

MEVAGISSEY

J HOCKING

250LB

71

23/8/67

LOOE

W WEELES

FRANK PRYNN

POLARIS

263LB

FEMALE/PHOTO

72

20/6/68

LOOE

D GRIFFITHS

RAY PENGELLY

IRENE

367LB

MALE/PHOTO

73

AUG 1968

LOOE

R CALVER

214LB

74

1968

FALMOUTH

GUY CROSSLEY

FATHOMER

300+LB

75

29/8/68

FALMOUTH

T WATKINS

TATTY JOE SEYFERT

TRY AGAIN

312LB

76

  3/6/69

LOOE

RAY PENGELLY

IRENE

40LB

77

16/6/69

MEVAGISSEY

BRIAN LEWIS

BERNARD HUNKIN

WESTWARD

325.5LB

78

  1/7/69

FALMOUTH

JOCK MACDONALD

ROBIN VINNICOMBE

HUNTRESS

408LB

MALE/PHOTO

LONGEST FIGHT 6 HOURS 10 MINS

79

19/7/69

LOOE

RAY PENGELLY

RAY PENGELLY

IRENE

63LB

80

12/8/69

LOOE

RAY PENGELLY

IRENE

30LB

SMALLEST RECORDED MAKO IN UK WATERS

81

13/6/70

LOOE

R WOOD

P GREENWOOD

GUIDING STAR

326LB

MALE/PHOTO

82

23/6/70

FALMOUTH

PHIL TAYLOR

ROBIN VINNICOMBE

HUNTRESS

370LB

MALE/PHOTO

83

12/5/71

LOOE

JOYCE YALLOP

ALAN DINGLE

LADY BETTY

500LB

MALE/PHOTO

BRITISH RECORD

84

16/6/71

FALMOUTH

DAVE TURNER

ROBIN VINNICOMBE

HUNTRESS

355LB

MALE/PHOTO

85

JUNE 1971

LOOE

167LB

86

MAY 1972

MEVAGISSEY

A WILLIAMS

128LB

87

JUNE 1972

LOOE

78LB

88

11/7/77

LOOE

ANTHONY

REDKNAP

R BUTTERS

LISANNE

132LB

MALE/PHOTO

89

1980

MEVAGISSEY

ALICE CLEMSON

130LB

90

19/7/13

MILFORD HAVEN

ANDREW

GRIFFITH

ANDREW

ALSOP

WHITEWATER2

194LB

MALE/PHOTO. THIS MAKO WAS THE FIRST EVER CAUGHT IN WELSH WATERS AND THE FIRST RECORDED IN BRITISH WATERS FOR 33 YEARS. ANOTHER MAKO ESTIMATED AT 350-400LB WAS SEEN AT THE SAME TIME. RELEASED AFTER MEASURING

91

7/9/20

MILFORD HAVEN

DANIEL KINGSBURY

ROB RENNIE

LADY JEN

 ESTIMATED 700-1000LBS

FEMALE/PHOTO. POSSIBLY THE LARGEST MAKO EVER CAUGHT IN BRITISH WATERS. RELEASED AT THE BOATSIDE. MEASURED OVER 11 FEET LONG.

                                                                    PORBEAGLE SHARKS WRONGLY IDENTIFIED AS MAKO’S IN SACGB RECORDS.

 

DATE

PORT

ANGLER

SKIPPER

BOAT

WEIGHT

NOTES

1

17/6/58

LOOE

FRANK KID

BERT DINGLE

NAUTILUS

166LB

MALE PORBEAGLE/PHOTO

2

21/5/61

LOOE

K C WILSON

JOHN KITTO

MAY QUEEN

311LB

FEMALE PORBEAGLE/PHOTO

3

  8/6/66

LOOE

R SCOTT

DICK BUTTERS

CLAIRE

64LB

MALE/PHOTO

MAKO’S HOOKED AND LOST IN BRITISH WATERS.

DATE

ACCOUNT

1948

OFF LOOE, F.LYDE CAUNTER HOOKS A 500LB+MAKO THAT JUMPS 7 TIMES BEFORE PARTING HIS TRACE

1950S

MEVAGISSEY. TREVOR HOUSBY HOOKS AN ESTIMATED 12-14FT MAKO THAT CUTS HIS LINE ON PILCHARD NETS AFTER MAKING  SEVERAL  JUMPS

1960S

TREVOR HOUSBY LOSES A 200LB+MAKO SOUTH OF THE EDDYSTONE LIGHT HOUSE WHEN IT JUMPS AND FREES THE HOOK.

1960S

A MAKO ESTIMATED AT 600LB IS HOOKED AND LOST BY A MEVAGISSEY SHARK BOAT.

1960S

LOOE BOAT HOOKS & LOSES, ESTIMATED 600LB MAKO AFTER A SHORT 3 MINUTE FIGHT WHEN IT JUMPS AND SHAKES THE HOOK FREE.

1960S

FALMOUTH. SKIPPER FRANK VINNICOMBE HOLDS A 300LB+ MAKO ON THE TRACE WHEN THE HOOK SLIPS AND THE SHARK ESCAPES.

1960S

ANTHONY PEARSON LOSES A 500LB MAKO IN PLYMOUTH SOUND WHEN IT SNAPS HIS LINE. THE WHOLE FIGHT WAS FILMED BY WESTWARD TV AND THE MAKO CLEARED THE WATER NUMEROUS TIMES.

JUNE 1971

LOOE. JUST A MONTH AFTER BREAKING THE BRITISH AND EUROPEAN RECORD WITH JOYCE YALLOPS 500 POUNDER, LOOE SKIPPER ALAN DINGLE TAKES A TURN OF THE TRACE AROUND A CLEAT ON A HUGE MAKO OF650-700LBS AFTER A LONG FIGHT. THE TRACE BREAKS AND THE FISH IS LOST.

1974

LOOE. ANGLER RODNEY GILL LOSES HIS MAKO WHEN IT SEVERES HIS TRACE.

EASTER 1975

OFF LOOE. GRAEME PULLEN LOSES A MAKO ESTIMATED AT 2-300LB WHILE FISHING WITH SKIPPER PHIL DINGLE.

JULY 2006

ANGLERS MIKE DUCKETT AND TONY VALLACK WHILE FISHING WITH LURES IN PLYMOUTH SOUND HAVE A LURE TAKEN BY A 200LB MAKO. THE SHARK MAKES SOME HUGE JUMPS BEFORE IT IS LOST.

MAKOS CAUGHT IN NETS OR WASHED UP ON BRITISH BEACHES

DATE

ACCOUNT

1980

250LB CAUGHT IN NETS OFF LOOE.

DECEMBER 2014

300LB+ WASHED UP ON BARMOUTH BEACH GWYNEDD NORTH WALES. MALE/PHOTO

                                                              

 MAKO SHARKS CAUGHT ON ROD AND LINE IN SOUTHERN IRISH WATERS

No

DATE

LOCATION

ANGLER

SKIPPER

BOAT

WEIGHT

NOTES

1

JULY 1965

KINSALE

ROSELYN MURPHY

WILLIE O’CONNELL

RAPAVE

174LB

2

AUGUST 1965

KINSALE

100LB

3

AUGUST  1990

KINSALE

UNCOMFIRMED REPORT

4

15/8/13

UNION HALL

BEN HEALY

TOM COLLINS

JOREE JADE

80LB

MALE/PHOTO. ANGLER BEN HEALY 14 YEARS OF AGE.

5

15/7/17

KINSALE

HENRY KELLY

MICK DENNEHY/

PEDRO WALSH

SILVER DAWN

84LB

MALE/PHOTO. RECAPTURED JUNE 2018, 80KM NW OF LISBON PORTUGAL HAVING TRAVELLED A DISTANCE OF 1460 KM.


One footnote, it is great to see how this wonderful fish is appreciated now and carefully released after taking information to help scientists learn more about this infrequent visitor to our waters.

 

As you will see , the majority were caught by legendary skipper Robin Vinnicombe (list below).  Again, if you can help add further information, please contact us.

You may find the following audio archive items of interest as they all talk about Mako fishing:-

Robin Vinnicombe interview  http://www.anglingheritage.org/p-22741-robin-vinnicombe-on-makos-sharks.aspx

Frank Vinnicombe interview  http://www.anglingheritage.org/p-22255-frank-vinnicombe-on-mako-sharks.aspx

Andy Griffith interview  http://www.anglingheritage.org/p-23904-shark-fishing-with-andy-griffith.aspx

David Turner interview  http://www.anglingheritage.org/p-23247-david-turner-talks-about-mako-shark-fishing.aspx