munterhunter Posted July 12, 2004 Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 Fished sunday with Nick, drifted old harry for maccy then fished 200 yds of old harry/ballard was slow fishing with a couple of smuts to 6 1/2lb (great fun on spinning rod and 2oz of lead!) nothing on fish baits. Notice a black fin meandering about @150 yds from us moving downtide @1knot and coming out and going back under slowly was not a dolphin/pourpoise so asume a whale/shark(wishfull thinking, although was livebaiting a mackerel at the time). was narrowish and more rectangular than fin(triangular) shape. Then we fished evans rock a couple more smuts to 5lb 2oz and a few bream to 1 1/2lb nothing on fish baits again not even doggies! Nick wasnt 100% so we came in just as the evening was getter flatter and flatter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob F Posted July 12, 2004 Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 Sounds like a Whaleshark, at least I hope so that close to the shore. Wonderful sight to see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan Posted July 12, 2004 Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 What bait were the Smuts taking? Interesting that they were also ignoring fish baits? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afishionado Posted July 12, 2004 Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 Wassa 'Smut' ? Thr shark was almost certainly a Basking shark. They are very common along the SW coast and appear when the water temperature rises. Hence the 'basking' in the sun bit. They are plankton feeders and slowly swim along with their mouths open filtering food through a sort of mesh infront of their gills. Suprisingly for a feeder on the smallest things in the sea, they can grow to 30ft long. They are totaly harmless, if you fell in ones mouth it has no teeth to bite with. Mad Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newboy Posted July 12, 2004 Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 Wonder what it would be like if accidentally hooked into one of them?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Martin Posted July 12, 2004 Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 I would agree with Mike a Basking shark for sure. I have seen them along Chesil Beach on occasions nice to see. Mike a smut is an abreviation for a Smooth Hound. Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
munterhunter Posted July 12, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 the smoothies were falling to peeler crab and rag and rag/peeler. size 1/0 and 3/0 hooks. Will be informing durlston whale watch of what saw so maybe they can identify the species probably a basking shark or pilot whale Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob F Posted July 12, 2004 Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 ...yes! a Basking Shark, not a Whaleshark. Whaleshark's are bloody huge and don't frequent our waters (I believe). Blimey, another senior moment. I'm getting worried... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
munterhunter Posted July 12, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 Durlston Marine Watch reckon was most probably a basking shark as pilot whales dont come in that close. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
domino Posted July 12, 2004 Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 I had one (basking shark) cruise past my boat, about 6'-8' away, in crystal clear water, while drifting just outside The Bar at Salcombe/Kingsbridge estuary a couple of years ago. I realised what is was but it still made the heart beat a little faster having something that big swim by so close. It was a probably 2'-3' longer than my boat(15' - Warrior 150). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan Posted July 12, 2004 Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 we met one whilst about 3 miles of Hope Cove in a mirror with a seagull on the back - we thought we knew what it was but (I am ashamed to say) didn't hang around to check! They are big, and relative to a mirror they are *****y big!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Webmistress Posted July 12, 2004 Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 Hope you guys realise how lucky you are - people actually pay to fish / swim / be in a boat around any shark - would love to see one myself or dolphin for that matter - here's hoping cheers Hells Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Martin Posted July 12, 2004 Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 Hells Your will see Dolphins off the Dorset coast sometime, Dolphins especially are spotted regularly of Poole and Swanage, in fact I believe there is a resident pod along our part of the coast. According to the Durlston Marine watch oct/nov/dec are the best times to see Dolphins, however I have only seen them in the summer months Last time I saw them was the week before we went to Alderney they were off of Durlston swimming towards Swanage Bay Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul D Posted July 12, 2004 Report Share Posted July 12, 2004 But with Pair trawling for Bass they will probably not be spotted as regularily now ..... ( NB : This is quite shocking ) Dolphin Deaths Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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