Mysterious Massive Shark Spotted off Devon Coast

A massive shark weighing over 61 pounds was recently spotted off the coast of Devon. Angler Kyle Bishop made the surprising discovery while fly fishing for pike and grey mullet. He had been using his gear, which included a whole mackerel hook bait, throughout the spring and summer.

Kyle successfully managed to bring the shark, known as a tope, to the shore of North Devon where he had been fishing from the rocky coastline. This area has been recognized as a prime location for catching sharks, with three previously holding records for the largest tope caught in Britain. The heaviest to date was found off the Pembrokeshire coastline and weighed an impressive 80 pounds.

The sighting of sharks near UK beaches is not uncommon. Just last month, a large shark was spotted astonished holidaymakers just meters away from children on a popular beach in Gwynedd, Wales. The creature’s fin could be seen protruding above the water as it swam close to some kids on an inflatable dinghy.

Fortunately, the suspected basking shark quickly changed direction and the children were safely pulled back to their boat. Carmel Richardson, who witnessed the spectacle, described it as a “once-in-a-lifetime experience.” She and her friends were on a boat just outside the designated safe-swim zone when they noticed the shark.

Tope sharks can grow up to 195cm in length, weigh up to 99 pounds, and live up to 50 years. They have a distinctive appearance with a gray upper body, white belly, two dorsal fins, and a notched tail. While they primarily feed on various fish species, they may also consume crustaceans or cephalopods if the opportunity arises.

Tagging studies have shown that tope sharks can travel long distances, with some individuals tagged in the UK being found as far away as the Canary Islands. It’s worth noting that there has never been a recorded unprovoked tope attack on humans, so there is no reason to fear this elegant elasmobranch.