Luce Bay top for tope

David Wright of Gateshead had a great day out in Luce Bay with Ian Burrett. Strong south-easterly winds kept the boat inshore but that didn’t stop David catching over 40 pollack to 5lb in the morning, and this massive tope in the afternoon. The fish fell to whole mackerel on a 6/0 barbless hook on 8ft of 150lb mono trace to 12 inches of 150lb bite wire. Ian estimated the tope at 70lb. Being pregnant, it was quickly unhooked and released. David said: “Even with a weigh-sling, it wasn’t worth risking such a fish. And it was great to watch her swim away strongly”.