Galeorhinus galeus
Other Names
Sweet William
Distinguishing features
The tope is a member of the shark family and has the typical slender shark shape with five gill slits. The upper lobe of the tail fin is large and ends in a triangular shape. The second dorsal fin is similar in shape and size to the directly opposite anal fin. The back and sides vary in colour from grey to grayish brown and the belly is white.
Size
The tope can attain lengths of 2.5 metres and weights of 38 kg in European waters.
British Record Fish List
UK Shore Record: 66lb 6oz 0dms / 30.107kg
UK Boat Record: 82lb 8oz 0dms / 37.422kg
European Line Class Record for this species
Habitat
The tope can be found along the coast adjoining the east North Atlantic, North Sea and the Mediterranean and is migratory in the north. It inhabits water from 10 to 200 metres in depth and although it mainly lives in packs on the bottom but will come up into mid-water to feed. It can be found over all types of seabed but is commonly found over mixed hard and soft ground.
Food
The tope feeds extensively on fish including pout, codling and whiting. Crustaceans also form part of its diet.
Bait
Mackerel, live or dead is the favourite bait for tope although in some estuarine waters sections of silver eel can be effective as can large sandeel where the tope come within range of the shore angler. Other small fish such as dabs and whiting can also be effective over sandy ground.
