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
|
LOOE
|
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
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84LB
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MALE/PHOTO. RECAPTURED JUNE 2018, 80KM NW OF LISBON PORTUGAL HAVING TRAVELLED A DISTANCE OF 1460 KM.
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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