Europe – Sport Fishing Mag https://www.sportfishingmag.com Sport Fishing is the leading saltwater fishing site for boat reviews, fishing gear, saltwater fishing tips, photos, videos, and so much more. Fri, 09 Feb 2024 20:59:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.2 https://www.sportfishingmag.com/uploads/2021/09/favicon-spf.png Europe – Sport Fishing Mag https://www.sportfishingmag.com 32 32 British Blues https://www.sportfishingmag.com/travel/british-bluefin-tuna/ Fri, 09 Feb 2024 20:59:16 +0000 https://www.sportfishingmag.com/?p=53973 A surge of bluefin tuna in the United Kingdom brings renewed attention to Plymouth.

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UK bluefin tuna release
The numbers of Atlantic bluefin tuna in the waters off Europe, and the United Kingdom in particular, have increased significantly in recent years. It has inspired a recreational catch-and-release fishery where captains are tagging fish and serving as citizen scientists. Jon Whittle

The Start Point Lighthouse sits out on a craggy peninsula flanked by the purple moor grasses and rush pastures of South Devon. On the hillside, a trio of sheep have sky blue circles painted on their backs to denote their ownership. It’s an elevated perch where each of the 360 degrees offers a spectacular view. But at the moment, the tourists and locals along the walking path are only looking down to the water, where giant bluefin tuna are smashing mackerel, creating explosions that get closer and closer to shore. 

Did that bluefin just bust 50 yards from the beach? And as long as we’re italicizing questions, What is going on with the incredible resurgence of bluefin tuna in the United Kingdom?

The Start Point Lighthouse’s beacon can be seen in nearby Plymouth, one of the most storied maritime communities in the Western Hemisphere. After all, it is that Plymouth, the Mayflower Plymouth, the Plymouth that gave the rock in Massachusetts its name. Today, the coastal city in southwest England, which celebrated its 400th birthday in 2020, is the gateway to a growing bluefin fishery. Similar to the bluefin revival in Southern California, the numbers of Atlantic bluefin tuna in the waters off Europe, and the United Kingdom in particular, have increased significantly in recent years. It has inspired a recreational catch-and-release fishery where captains are tagging fish and serving as citizen scientists. 

In 2021, the Centre for Environmental Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) initiated the Catch and Release Tagging (CHART) program where a limited number of charter vessels are approved to tag-and-release bluefin to learn more about their movements and behavior. In 2022, the CHART program recorded 631 charter trips, 1,755 participating anglers, and 1,090 tagged fish. 

trolling for bluefin tuna
Capt. Mark Jury, of Fortuna Charters, trolls artificials from spreader bars on his boat, Fortuna II. The 41-foot fishing catamaran is built for the sporty seas that the English Channel often serves up. Jon Whittle

Twenty-four charters were licensed tag-and-release vessels in 2023, one of which is Fortuna Charters, owned and operated by Capt. Mark Jury. His boat, Fortuna II, is a 41-foot fishing catamaran built for the sporty seas that the English Channel often serves up. But to the daring salt goes the spoils: In October 2022, Jury caught and released 94 fish in one 14-day stretch, including one day where he landed 17. That said, blue migrations are a mystery, so this phenomenon isn’t guaranteed to last.

Planning a Trip

Start Point Lighthouse
The Start Point Lighthouse sits out on a craggy peninsula flanked by the purple moor grasses and rush pastures of South Devon. Nearby, giant bluefin tuna are smashing mackerel, creating explosions that get closer and closer to shore. Jon Whittle

When to Go: While details for the 2024 season have not been announced yet, as a general rule, the season runs from mid-August to mid-December. 

Where to Go and How to Get There: Unless one has patience for purgatory, it’s best to avoid Heathrow and opt to fly into Gatwick instead. For our recent trip in October 2023, we flew direct from Orlando to London on American: an eight-hour flight. It’s a four-hour road trip through rolling hillsides to Plymouth. Don’t be surprised when in Hour Two you look out the car window and ask, “Isn’t that Stonehenge?” (Yes, it was Stonehenge. And the $30 ticket is worth it.) As you get closer to Plymouth, the streets get increasingly narrow until it’s just one-lane country roads bordered by hedgerows and stone walls, creating the most charming traffic jams you’ll ever experience. 

Skip the hotels and inns if possible. Plymouth and the nearby towns of Noss Mayo and Newton Ferrers have surprisingly affordable Airbnb and VRBO rentals. While Plymouth is bigger and more industrial (dockyards, naval base, a population of 265,000), Noss Mayo and Newton Ferrers are quaint seaside villages straight out of a snow globe, both only 20 minutes from Plymouth Yacht Haven. 

What to Expect: It’s downright gobsmacking to watch a man protected only by leather fishing gloves wire a 700-pound bluefin. “Ninety-nine inches!” Jury exclaims as he hangs over the gunwale to measure the giant. The tag—a thin, yellow tube—is placed below the base of the second dorsal fin. This would be the biggest of the 17 bluefin caught-and-released over four days. 

Bluefin tuna tagging stick
It’s downright gobsmacking to watch a man protected only by leather fishing gloves wire and tag a 700-pound bluefin tuna. Jon Whittle

Fortuna II is quite the comfy cat. Its 16-foot beam allows for a sizable salon with more perks than most charter boats. “Should I put a kettle on?” asks Andy, the mate. Everyone politely declines on Day One. By Day Four, the whole crew is enjoying tea, and sure I’ll have another biscuit, thank you very much.

While the trademark English gloom and fog took over some days, the weather was mostly beautiful, the seas bouncy but not uncomfortable. It’s stand-up fishing with 80- and 130-pound conventional reels clipped into a harness, with one eyelet clipped to the transom should a giant send you overboard. The CHART program forbids live bait, so it’s all artificials fished with spreader bars. Aside from bluefin, wildlife abounds in these waters. Shearwaters glide above the whitecaps following schools of mackerel. Minke, pilot and fin whales are common sights. Porpoise cruise and leap between the cat’s hulls while underway. 

It’s all cool breezes and hot tea until—zzzzzzzzz!—the left long goes off. Then it’s choreographed chaos. Andy hastily clears the spreader bar. Jury descends from the bridge, belting joyful obscenities, acting as if it’s his first fish of season.  

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Is a Licensed Recreational Bluefin Tuna Fishery Coming to the UK? https://www.sportfishingmag.com/news/recreational-season-for-uk-bluefin-tuna/ Tue, 24 Jan 2023 21:03:05 +0000 https://www.sportfishingmag.com/?p=51730 Two years of successful bluefin tuna trips under the experimental program have anglers itching for more.

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uk bluefin tuna
Young angler Izzy Crotty with a big bluefin tuna she helped catch and release off the southwest coast of England. Courtesy Fortuna Charters

Limited numbers of anglers experienced a resurgent Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery in United Kingdom waters as part of an experimental scientific Catch and Release Tagging (CHART) program over the last two years. Now, Mark Spencer, minister of state at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), is considering a licensed recreational fishery for bluefins. That’s great news for anglers and coastal fishing communities in the UK, such as Cornwall in southwest England.

“The return of Atlantic bluefin tuna to UK waters is an exciting opportunity which could benefit our fishing communities and tourism industry,” said Spencer, to the Financial Times. One of Spencer’s primary roles is as the UK’s fisheries minister.

The current roadblocks seem to be related to confirming that available scientific data shows current bluefin tuna stocks are in good shape, and are being given sufficient protection. Creating a recreational bluefin tuna season would also require a legal change.

The Angling Trust, along with the UK Bluefin Tuna Association, met with Spencer to make the case for a recreational bluefin tuna fishery in 2023. Jamie Cook, CEO of Angling Trust, explained the success of the CHART program over the last two years, detailed the economic benefits, and floated the idea of moving to a full, licensed recreational catch-and-release fishery.

bluefin tuna
A school of Atlantic bluefin tuna. NOAA Fisheries

“We acknowledge some of the current legal barriers to this and will continue to push DEFRA to make the removal of those barriers a priority,” said the Angling Trust, in a post online.

Spencer indicated his preferred option was a licensed recreational catch-and-release fishery, according to the UK Bluefin Tuna Association, but he also supported a backup plan of continuing the CHART program for a third year.

“We had a very constructive introductory meeting where we discussed a range of issues,” said Spencer. “I continue to be interested in recreational angling and see the significant value in it. I reaffirmed DEFRA’s commitment to continue to work with the Angling Trust on a range of matters including bluefin tuna.”

For 2023, the UK was granted an additional 15 tonnes of bluefin quota by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) for a total of 63 tonnes. Some anglers believe that’s enough quota for recreational sport fishermen to keep a limited number of bluefin tuna too, even if recreational take is not expected to happen in 2023.

A Short History: CHART Program Success in 2021 and 2022

In 2021, UK’s Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) spearheaded the CHART pilot program. This allowed 15 charter captains to participate in bluefin tuna fishing from August 16 to Nov. 14. Skippers were trained in angling, handling, and tagging techniques for bluefins, and vessels were monitored by a combination of observer coverage and universal camera installation, according to CEFAS. Recreational anglers booked trips with these captains to catch and release bluefin tuna.

The scientific tag-and-release program was a success, resulting in 704 tagged fish from 421 trips over the 13-week season. Data were collected on length, location, condition following the fight and any incidental mortality. Most fish were tagged using coded FLOY tags, while 19 fish were tagged using PSAT tags to monitor post-release behavior. Mortality was significantly lower than expected, with 10 incidental fish mortalities remaining well within the limits of the 10-tonne quota set for the fishery in 2021.

Fishing captains in the United Kingdom had a great year of tuna fishing in 2022, tagging more than 1,000 bluefin tuna. Courtesy CEFAS

In 2022, more than 1,000 bluefin tuna were caught and released. A total of 25 trained captains participated in the second year of the CEFAS CHART program, fishing from Aug. 15 to Dec. 11. According to CEFAS, the boats spent more than 4,000 hours fishing for tuna, with 1,755 anglers participating. The total number of bluefin tuna measured was 1,113, with 1,090 tuna tagged successfully.

Of note, all bluefin tuna caught from 2021 to 2022 were revived and released, unless one died before it could be released. And very few died, according to reporting data. Captains could not keep or sell dead bluefin tuna, but had to bring them back to the Marine Management Organization. Dead bluefins were used for scientific purposes and data contribution to international research through ICCAT. 

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Stunning Photos of Giant Marlin and Tuna in the Azores https://www.sportfishingmag.com/story/travel/stunning-photos-of-giant-marlin-and-tuna-in-the-azores/ Sat, 28 Dec 2019 21:25:20 +0000 https://www.sportfishingmag.com/?p=47108 Nine volcanic islands comprise the Azores, one of two autonomous regions of Portugal (another big-marlin spot, Madeira, being the other). The scenic islands rise to more than 7,700 feet (Mount Pico). “During a short three-month season (July-September) and with relatively few boats, the small, picturesque and remote island Port of Horta in the Azores, provides […]

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Nine volcanic islands comprise the Azores, one of two autonomous regions of Portugal (another big-marlin spot, Madeira, being the other). The scenic islands rise to more than 7,700 feet (Mount Pico). “During a short three-month season (July-September) and with relatively few boats, the small, picturesque and remote island Port of Horta in the Azores, provides some of the world’s finest blue marlin fishing,” says Capt. Les Gallagher with Oceanic Fishing, who has been fishing the Azores since 1987. His best season in the Azores totaled 112 blues; he has caught a 1,310-pound blue. Gallagher cites these waters as accounting for 25% of current blue marlin conventional-tackle world records and five granders since 2016. Gallagher is also an accomplished photographer, as these images of action from boats in the Azores Fishing fleet show.

Man with massive blue marlin
Massive blue marlin make their way to the Azores to gorge on the great aggregations of blue jacks and Atlantic chub mackerel that gather along the slopes around these islands. Capt. Les Gallagher

The Azores, about 850 miles west of Portugal, are considered an autonomous region of that country. A flight from Boston to the island of Sao Miguel is about five hours.

Reaching the fishing grounds isn’t generally an hours-long proposition: Here, Xacara hooks up a blue marlin on the north coast of Faial Island, one of the best fishing areas out of Horta and only a 25-minute run from the marina.
Reaching the fishing grounds isn’t generally an hours-long proposition: Here, Xacara hooks up a blue marlin on the north coast of Faial Island, one of the best fishing areas out of Horta and only a 25-minute run from the marina. Capt. Les Gallagher
The Azores Archipelago consists of nine islands; the area’s extensive banks and seamounts sit atop the midAtlantic Ridge.
The Azores Archipelago consists of nine islands; the area’s extensive banks and seamounts sit atop the midAtlantic Ridge. Fishpics


Second mate Graeme “Bonze” Fleet (from New Zealand’s Bonze Lures, bonzelures.co.nz) hangs onto a 500-pounder.
Second mate Graeme “Bonze” Fleet (from New Zealand’s Bonze Lures, bonzelures.co.nz) hangs onto a 500-pounder. Capt. Olaf Grimkowski
While monster marlin are the main stars of the show in these waters, anglers catch huge bluefin tuna as well, such as this one that anglers and crew work to pull through the tuna door on Grander.
While monster marlin are the main stars of the show in these waters, anglers catch huge bluefin tuna as well, such as this one that anglers and crew work to pull through the tuna door on Grander. Capt. Les Gallagher

RELATED: 10 Top Places to Catch Monster Marlin

The wireman works to retain his hold on a large marlin in the chop formed by currents passing over the Azores Bank.
The wireman works to retain his hold on a large marlin in the chop formed by currents passing over the Azores Bank. Capt. Les Gallagher
In calmer waters, backing down in pursuit of a behemoth off Faial Island, the mate waits, ready to make the wire.
In calmer waters, backing down in pursuit of a behemoth off Faial Island, the mate waits, ready to make the wire. Capt. Olaf Grimkowski
The Xacara team about to release a 550 on Condor Bank.
The Xacara team about to release a 550 on Condor Bank. Capt. Les Gallagher
Lots of fine-weather days characterize this fishery, as Brasilia trolls over the calm water.
Lots of fine-weather days characterize this fishery, as the Brasilia trolls over the calm water. Capt. Les Gallagher
Bluefin are only occasional visitors to the Azores, but when they do show up, schools of 600- to 1,200-pound fish may number in the hundreds. When they push big baits schools to the surface, the action can be surreal.
Bluefin are only occasional visitors to the Azores, but when they do show up, schools of 600- to 1,200-pound fish may number in the hundreds. When they push big baits schools to the surface, the action can be surreal. Capt. Les Gallagher
Snipefish (Macroamphosus scolopax) in numbers never seen here before have dominated the biomass landscape of the Azores during the last two years.
Snipefish (Macroramphosus scolopax) in numbers never seen here before have dominated the biomass seascape of the Azores during the last two years. Capt. Les Gallagher
A brace of Fronteira lures rigged and ready with 10/0 hooks.
A brace of Fronteira lures rigged and ready with 10/0 hooks. Capt. Les Gallagher
Gallagher says Ocean Fishing has mastered the technique of hooking marlin through the bill at the point where the lower jaw meets the upper jaw.
Gallagher says Oceanic Fishing has mastered a technique of hooking marlin through the bill at the point where the lower jaw meets the upper jaw. Capt. Les Gallagher
Pedro Alfonso, PhD, from the University of the Azores attached a pop-up satellite archival tag in a grander blue on the Condor Bank.
Pedro Alfonso, PhD, from the University of the Azores attached a pop-up satellite archival tag in a grander blue on the Condor Bank. Capt. Les Gallagher
Nola works on a 700 between Condor Bank and Faial Island.
Nola works on a 700 between Condor Bank and Faial Island. Capt. Les Gallagher
Anglers and crew wax ecstatic over a magnificent bigeye taken just south of Faial.
Anglers and crew wax ecstatic over a magnificent bigeye taken just south of Faial. Capt. Les Gallagher
Spearfish, like this brilliant-blue longbill taken on Condor Bank, are known for aggressively pursuing lures far too large for them but still getting hooked. White marlin and, on occasion, roundscale spearfish are among the smaller billfish taken incidentally in the Azores.
Spearfish, like this brilliant-blue longbill taken on Condor Bank, are known for aggressively pursuing lures far too large for them but still getting hooked. White marlin and, on occasion, roundscale spearfish are among the smaller billfish taken incidentally in the Azores. Capt. Les Gallagher
A 600 sulks in deep water for Nola off the north coast of Faial Island.
A 600 sulks in deep water for Nola off the north coast of Faial Island. Capt. Les Gallagher
The Habitat’s team carefully reviving and releasing a 650 of Faiail.
The Habitat’s team carefully reviving and releasing a 650 of Faial. Capt. Les Gallagher

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Wide-Open Light-Tackle Fishing in the North Atlantic https://www.sportfishingmag.com/wide-open-light-tackle-fishing-in-north-atlantic/ Sat, 26 Mar 2016 22:16:38 +0000 https://www.sportfishingmag.com/?p=48409 An international photojournalist captures the incredible action that awaits small-boat anglers off the scenic coast of Norway.

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Wild North Atlantic fishing adventure
Atlantic halibut numbers seem very strong off Norway, and anglers — having refined their techniques in recent years — have become proficient at catching them. Arnout Terlouw

Mention fishing the Atlantic off Norway, and heavy rods with heavy metal pilk jigs are likely to come to mind for many anglers. Effective? Yes, it still is. But fun? That’s all relative. I would say fishing up there using rubber shad tails and much lighter tackle is both far more fun and much more effective. That’s true for the famed oversized Atlantic cod of these water but also the many other interesting game fish to be caught in the extremely fish-rich waters of Norway.

Wild North Atlantic fishing adventure
Atlantic cod, the main target here, can regularly exceed 50 pounds. Arnout Terlouw

March and April are famous months for producing huge numbers of big skrei cod, those coming down from the Barents Sea to spawn in the fertile waters of northern Norway. As you might expect, this attracts thousands of anglers each year. Find the right spot and you can haul aboard one big cod after another. Fat 50 – to 70-pound fish are no exception during this period.

Wild North Atlantic fishing adventure
Winter can offer red-hot action but cold weather and short, dark days can limit options. Arnout Terlouw

But a big downside is that fishing is done quite often in rough (and cold) conditions, the days are still short, and apart from (very) big cod there isn’t much else to catch.

Wild North Atlantic fishing adventure
During late spring and summer, long, bright days with calm weather and wide-open action on light spinners qualifiy as any angler’s dream. Arnout Terlouw

By the end of May, the last skrei cod returned to the north, but this is the start of my favorite fishing season in Norway. From June into August, you have nearly 24 hours of daylight and can fish pretty much anytime, but you can also expect to catch many species: cod of course, but also coalfish, pollack, haddock and halibut. Andy you can catch them on light spinning tackle of the sort you’d normally use for fishing fresh water.

Wild North Atlantic fishing adventure
There isn’t much an angler can’t handle on medium spinners with 30-pound braid — but even lighter gear provides still more sport. Arnout Terlouw

With a medium, high-quality spinning outfit spooled with 30-pound braid or so, you can catch the biggest cod and coalfish and even large halibut if you’re patient and have good line capacity. You can fish even lighter, down to 12- to 20-pound test, to have even more fun. But doing so will depends how deep you have to fish and how strong the current runs. The big advantage light braids offer is the use of much, much lighter metal or lead-head jigs, which help offer a natural presentation.

Wild North Atlantic fishing adventure
This sounder screen plainly shows a massive bait aggregation over a high spot. You can be sure that keeps predators galore in the area, anywhere from the bottom to the surface. Arnout Terlouw

Many anglers still think that fishing for cod and halibut has to be done close to the bottom, but often the opposite is the case in Norway’s deepwater fjords and off its rugged coast. Most fish here prey on schools of herring or small sei (coalfish) at varying depths over the entire water column. This can be very close to surface (and often is late in the day). Find the baitfish and you will find the predators that hang around these sometimes-huge schools. If you only fish near bottom, as a lot of people using heavy jigs still do), you’ll miss not only the majority of fish, but most likely the bigger ones.

Wild North Atlantic fishing adventure
A variety of soft plastics work well such as this Savage Gear Sandeel. Arnout Terlouw

A great advantage of fishing with shad tails and swimbaits is that you can fish much more slowly, and heavy currents are not needed to present your bait in an attractive way. Also, in addition to fishing vertically, you can also cast out a shad tail and fish it back to the boat at an angle, covering more water while presenting your bait in a much more natural way. The tail of shad will swing enticingly in even a modest current. Even with a rod in a holder, many times a tail will have enough wiggle to get bitten.

Wild North Atlantic fishing adventure
A variety of swimbait tails will do the job in these waters. Arnout Terlouw

A reel-and-pause retrieve is often a deadly effective way of enticing strikes. When it stops swimming, a swimbait looks like a wounded fish. Suddenly speeding up, as well as suddenly slowing the retrieve, can also be very effective.

Wild North Atlantic fishing adventure
Rental boats along this coast are typically high quality and well equipped. Arnout Terlouw

While big tides help make fish feed more actively, they can cause too fast a drift, leaving you with very little control over your lure and reducing your time in the right area. To control and slow the drift, a large drogue (or sea anchor) is essential. Rental fishing boats along the Norway coast are usually fine fishing machines and well equipped but don’t come with drogues, so bring one yourself; it’s one of the most important keys to success.

Wild North Atlantic fishing adventure
Electronics are critical to success in this rugged submarine environment. Arnout Terlouw

A good fish-finder/chart-plotter unit is something no successful angler here can do without to reveal schools of baitfish and interesting features like underwater plateaus or steep ledges, as well as indicating direction and velocity of one’s drift.

Wild North Atlantic fishing adventure
Once they’re located, cod can keep light-tackle enthusiasts busy nonstop. Arnout Terlouw

For most anglers, Atlantic cod represent the prime target, and the teeming waters of Norway hold them in unbelievable numbers. Cod of 20 to 50 pounds are not at all unusual anytime of the year for those who know where/how to fish them, as noted, often in midwater around baitfish schools. Look for underwater plateaus in 150 to 300 feet and surrounded by deeper water; most likely you’ll find the bigger cod there.

Wild North Atlantic fishing adventure
Big bright paddle-tail baits are hard to beat for trophy-sized cod. Arnout Terlouw

For larger cod, anglers will want to fish big tails, 10 inches or even larger in bright colors. I do well with these when simply reeling in slowly and stopping the retrieve once in a while. On a typical big-cod bite, you’ll feel a good tap followed by a slack line, when the fish inhales the shad in an upward motion. A cod of 35 or more pounds can bend a light rod to its limit, making an angler think he might have hooked a halibut!

Wild North Atlantic fishing adventure
Easily identified by their streamlined shape and distinctive white lateral line, coalfish fight ferociously. Arnout Terlouw

Coalfish (Pollachius virens) are also very abundant along the coast. While you’ll find these small *sei *of 2 to 7 pounds pretty much anywhere, the bigger fish of 10 to 35 pounds or more can be harder to find, as they often stay farther offshore. But they migrate into coastal waters from June into September and offer unbelievable sport on spinning tackle! They’re as streamlined as tuna and fight similarly, never giving up until the very last. Hence, they’re often called the “tuna of the north.”

Wild North Atlantic fishing adventure
A large coalfish, hooked near the surface, can take off with surprising speed and power. Arnout Terlouw

Fast predators, coalfish hunt in huge schools anywhere from the bottom to the surface. Speed-jigging with metal jigs can be very effective, but again, so is fishing with plastics — especially sand-eel imitators on a jig head of 30 to 80 grams (1 to 3 ounces). Work them much faster than you would for cod with some sudden stops after a couple turns of the handle. When hooked near the surface, coalfish may take off with lightning speed, making the reel scream.

Wild North Atlantic fishing adventure
Even a modest-sized halibut will be a handful on medium spinning gear. Arnout Terlouw

For many anglers, the Atlantic halibut represents the holy grail in these waters. Not only do they fight extremely hard, but halibut can grow to huge sizes, topping 450 pounds. Although with medium spinning tackle you can land surprisingly large halibut, if targeting the real monsters, I would advise heavier tackle.

Perhaps 20 years ago, catching a big halibut was often a matter of luck. But over the last two decades, specialized fishing for the species has become very popular, not only because numbers have grown the last decades (thanks to tighter restrictions on commercial fishing), but also because much more is known now of the behavior of halibut.

Wild North Atlantic fishing adventure
Norway halibut readily strike shad tails. Arnout Terlouw

Although they spend much of their time in really deep water (especially in the colder months), from late May into October, they feed in much shallower water, sometimes no more than 30 feet deep. They like sandy bottoms which, devoid of significant structure, may be ignored by anglers watching the fish finder. But such areas, especially between 65 and 165 feet deep, surrounded by deep water, offer a good shot at big halibut.

Wild North Atlantic fishing adventure
Halibut may follow a large soft-plastic bait, even snapping at it, for some distance well above the bottom. Arnout Terlouw

Most people think these huge flounder spend most of their time on the bottom, but the opposite it true. Halibut are very active hunters, using the whole water column to feed, sometimes even at the surface. Fishing soft plastics in such areas can be very effective. More often than not, they’ll first follow your shad tail; you might feel some small taps when they bite the tail of the shad. In that case, it often pays to stop the retrieve for a few seconds. But sometimes they keep on attacking the tail, and adding a stinger hook can lead to more hook-ups.

Wild North Atlantic fishing adventure
When currents are light, halibut don’t bite, but once the tide starts flowing strongly, chances for action increase. Arnout Terlouw

One essential when halibut fishing: current. No current (no tide), and your chances for a hook-up will be slim. But once the tide starts running, it can be as if a switch has been turned on and you may hook several.

Wild North Atlantic fishing adventure
Lacking a swim bladder, halibut never suffer from barotrauma; often the first time they see the boat, they run unstoppably toward bottom. Arnout Terlouw

Even smaller halibut of 25 pounds can rip line off your spool in its initial run, so you can imagine what a bigger fish 60 pounds or more will do. Steady pressure usually wins the game, but patience is a virtue. Big halibut are often landed in Norway with a sturdy gaff and a rope slipped around the tail. Be extremely careful bringing into a boat any good-sized halibut; they’re likely to go berserk and can destroy rods and gear. But being so tough, they can as a rule readily be released unharmed.

Wild North Atlantic fishing adventure
The jaws of large wolffish, common in these waters, are as gnarly as they appear, but the flesh is white, firm and tasty. Arnout Terlouw

IF YOU ONLY FISH NEAR BOTTOM, AS A LOT OF PEOPLE USING HEAVY JIGS STILL DO), YOU’LL MISS NOT ONLY THE MAJORITY OF FISH, BUT MOST LIKELY THE BIGGER ONES.

Wild North Atlantic fishing adventure
Pollack are similar to coalfish but not as large and lack the distinctive white lateral-line stripe. Arnout Terlouw

Pollack (Pollachius pollachius) is an often-overlooked species, which is a shame, as this fish offers great opportunities for the light-tackle enthusiasts. A good bet is too look for shallow water near rocky islands or submerged rocky areas in 30 to 60 feet, with kelp nearby, with a good current. Cast a sand-eel tail on a 1- to 1 ½-ounce jig head to the rocks and work it very slowly.

Wild North Atlantic fishing adventure
Pollack make great shallow-water targets for light and even fly gear. Arnout Terlouw

If you are a fly-fishing fanatic, you can even fish for them with streamers. One of my most memorable fishing days in Norway was a cold October day on the island of Hitra, fishing the outermost islands. We caught more than 100 pollack on light spinning tackle, many of them 10 to 20 pounds. Great fun amidst stunning scenery!

Wild North Atlantic fishing adventure
Norway’s rocky coastline offers options for protected waters when the wind blows, and on clear days, breathtaking scenery. Arnout Terlouw

The wind can at times make it dangerous to go out to the open sea in small boats. But the thousands of islands and sheltered fjords along Norway’s 1,500 miles of coastline offer not only protection from the wind but also excellent fishing options. During my last trip, in June, to the beautiful island of Senja — also known as “little Norway” — we found the best fishing far inside the fjord, only a 10-minute ride from our vacation house. Two weeks of heavy westerly winds had pushed the baitfish deep inside the fjords, and they were followed by huge schools of coalfish, cod and halibut.

Wild North Atlantic fishing adventure
What might seem like a late-afternoon scene could well be nearly midnight along coastal Norway in the summer. Arnout Terlouw

We discovered that out on the ocean there were hardly any baitfish to be seen over the big underwater plateaus, surrounded by deep water, which are normally a guarantee for big fish. So we fished inside the fjord, where baitfish often filled the sounder screen. We hooked one big coalfish and cod after the other, all on spinning tackle which we would normally use to fish for freshwater pike. It was so addicting that we went out fishing again after dinner, to come came back at 2 a.m. — with the sun still shining on the snow-covered mountain peaks surrounding the fjord.

Wild North Atlantic fishing adventure
Though at times, a good gaff comes in very handy, anglers in these waters can land most fish by hand. Arnout Terlouw

All the species mentioned here are very good to eat, and of course it doesn’t do any harm to take some fish back for the evening meal, or some to freeze (up to 15 kilograms to take home by law) and take home. But killing all fish you catch is a waste when you catch so many. Fishing from a small boat you can often land fish by hand, without using a gaff, and releasing them unharmed is easy. Releasing coalfish and halibut presents little problem, even when they have been hooked in deep water.

Wild North Atlantic fishing adventure
Cod suffer more easily from barotrauma and may not readily swim back to bottom, though we find if pause to let them deflate as we bring them closer to the boat, they can swim back down. Arnout Terlouw
Wild North Atlantic fishing adventure
(IF YOU GO: Two sets of spinning tackle should suffice, plus a selection of jig heads from 1 to 5 ounces, a variety of shad tails (slim, sand-eel types, and bulkier shads of from 6 to 10 inches, mono or fluorocarbon leader, swivels, split rings, rigging glue, pliers and drogues/sea anchors. Arnout Terlouw
Wild North Atlantic fishing adventure
IF YOU GO: The Norwegian company Din Tur offers hundreds of accommodation options including rental houses with very good fishing boats (most of them on your doorstep), all along the Norwegian coast, from the far south to far north. Arnout Terlouw
Wild North Atlantic fishing adventure
IF YOU GO: For general information about vacationing in Norway, Visit Norway is a great resource. Arnout Terlouw
Wild North Atlantic fishing adventure
The author holds a trophy northern pike. Arnout Terlouw

About the Author

Arnout Terlouw is a Dutch sport-fishing journalist with articles published in many leading magazines across Europe, the United States, South America, Australia and Malaysia, and is a contributor to sportfishingmag.com. As a fishing-travel consultant, Terlouw works with specialized international fishing-travel companies. While he has traveled the world to amazing and remote places like West Papua in Indonesia, he still loves fishing in Norway, which he has done annually for nearly two decades — fishing the Atlantic but also the deep fjord lakes, casting for giant northern pike. Casting with lures is Terlou’s passion, something he can do 24 hours a day. You can contact him by email at arnout.terlouw@kpnplanet.nl.

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An Arctic Fishing Adventure for Monster Greenland Sharks https://www.sportfishingmag.com/arctic-fishing-greenland-sharks/ Fri, 16 Oct 2015 02:15:09 +0000 https://www.sportfishingmag.com/?p=45877 Looking for something different? Try fishing for one of the world’s largest shark species through the ice and from small boats in icy seas.

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Greenland shark caught ice fishing
A 670-pound Greenland shark caught from the ice, captured by the photographer (middle), Niels Krog (left) and Morten Vihlmann. Johnny Jensen / jjphoto.dk

Longtime Sport Fishing contributor Johnny Jensen recently showed us some amazing photos from an adventure to fish the wild coast of Greenland. He’s allowing us to share those here with SF enthusiasts.

“This Greenland trip was centered around a Discover Channel documentary series of the world’s largest sharks,” Jensen explains. Danish clothier Geoff Anderson sponsored clothing and fishing tackle. “We stayed at the famous Hotel Arctic in Illulissat, where the food was absolutely world class.” Jensen said with lots of local assistance, “We made sure we had plenty of fish guts, dead seals and so on. It was all very disgusting but apparently irresistible to Greenland sleeper sharks.”

While a majority of viewers probably won’t be rushing out to book a similar trip, you’ll find the images compelling, fascinating and unlike anything within your frame of reference.

Maniitsoq, Greenland

AT THE ARCTIC’S EDGE

The actual fishing adventure was based in Maniitsoq on the west coast of the country. Its nearly 2,700 residents make this the sixth-largest community in Greenland. (This aerial view also proves the truth to the saw that Greenland is more ice and Iceland more green.) Courtesy Google Maps
Fraveyard near Illulisat, Greenland
SPECTACULAR GRAVEYARD Johnny Jensen / jjphoto.dk

A graveyard near Illulisat, with an ice-strewn fjord and Disko Island in the background.

Coast of Greenland near Maniitsoq
WHITE WILDERNESS Johnny Jensen / jjphoto.dk

The rocky, snow-covered, austere coast of Greenland near Maniitsoq greets us on approach to our destination.

Map showing location of Greenland shark fishing
X MARKS THE SPOT Johnny Jensen / jjphoto.dk

Local fishermen show us on a map where we should find Greenland sharks.

Drilling fishing holes through Greenland sea ice
A HOLE TO THE OCEAN Johnny Jensen / jjphoto.dk

One of the initial steps to fish for Greenland sharks calls for drilling holes through the sea ice.

Spotted wolfish ice fishing Greenland
SURPRISE! Johnny Jensen / jjphoto.dk

One of our first catches wasn’t a shark but a spotted wolfish, flashing an awe-inspiring, tough-guy grin as we hauled up into the ice hole.

Wolffish caught fishing Greenland ice
HANDLE WITH CARE Johnny Jensen / jjphoto.dk

The powerful jaws of the wolffish demand caution. This one weighed about 25 pounds.

Ice fishing fisherman wearing survival suit
FISHING ON THE EDGE Johnny Jensen / jjphoto.dk

Ice fishing on the edge — and only to be attempted when wearing a survival suit, as here.

Discovery Channel film crew Greenland sharks underwater
CLOSE ENCOUNTER Johnny Jensen / jjphoto.dk

I was able to join the Discovery Channel film crew to film Greenland sharks underwater.

Greenland wolffish aka catfish
TOUGH BUT TASTY Johnny Jensen / jjphoto.dk

Another large wolffish (known as catfish around much of Greenland). These are a superb-eating fish.

Greenland shark fishing boat
EN ROUTE TO THE SHARK GROUNDS Johnny Jensen / jjphoto.dk

Anglers on a calm morning headed to the shark-hunting grounds. These sharks are taken both through the ice and from boats when the waters are open.

Ice bergs and ice fields in lower Davis Strait, Greenland
GROWLERS ‘N BERGY BITS Johnny Jensen / jjphoto.dk

In some areas, smaller pieces of ice bergs and ice fields drift about in lower Davis Strait, making travel by boat hazardous.

Greenland shark Arctic Ocean
MONSTER FROM THE DEPTHS Johnny Jensen / jjphoto.dk

It was eerie to see huge Greenland sharks rising near the boat from cold, deep waters of the Arctic Ocean.

Fisherman shows fishing tackle for Greenland sharks
SERIOUS GEAR Johnny Jensen / jjphoto.dk

A local fisherman shows the tackle he uses to catch Greenland sharks.

Rotting seal carcass deep sea fishing
WHO CAN RESIST A ROTTING SEAL CARCASS? Johnny Jensen / jjphoto.dk

Whole, rotten seals like this are used to get the attention of Greenland sharks. Also, we typically we chummed an area with fish intestines and putrid seal meat.

Greenland shark fishing
LEVIATHANS OF THE ARCTIC Johnny Jensen / jjphoto.dk

Greenland sharks are one of the largest species of shark, approaching the size of great whites. While they eat mostly fish, they’re known to prey widely on seals as well.

Blacklegged kittiwakes Arctic seabirds
SENSATIONAL SEA-BIRD COLONIES Johnny Jensen / jjphoto.dk

The rugged coastal landforms here are home to great numbers of Arctic seabirds. These are blacklegged kittiwakes.

Maniitsoq hotel atop rocky headland
HOTEL AND HARBOR IN MANIITSOQ Johnny Jensen / jjphoto.dk

We stayed in this hotel, perched atop a rocky headland.

Coast Guard vessel icy mist Illulissat
SURREAL MORNING MISTS Johnny Jensen / jjphoto.dk

A coast guard vessel slowly makes its way through the icy morning mist off Illulissat.

Greenland ice fields fishing information
IN CASE YOU’RE JONESING TO FISH GREENLAND ICE FIELDS…. Johnny Jensen / jjphoto.dk

I don’t know about the Greenland Shark Challenge guys, but they’re on the internet and appear to offer the chance to do what we did for anyone brave enough to try.

For general information about Greenland, see Visit Greenland.

Greenland fishing scenery
ARCTIC IDYLL Johnny Jensen / jjphoto.dk

The beauty of Greenland can be breathtaking. In addition to the gargantuan sleeper sharks, these waters offer anglers the chance to catch wolffish, Greenland halibut, redfish (similar to the rockfishes of the Pacific) and, for fly-rodders, sea-run Arctic char in good numbers.

Johnny Jensen fishing photographer

About the Photographer

Johnny Jensen has traveled to many of the world’s remote jungles, rain forests, mountains and deserts. In addition to his lifelong passion for sport fishing, his photography also displays his general interest in the natural world. Jensen’s photos appear in many European and American fishing magazines, including Sport Fishing, as well as in books, photographic libraries and more. Courtesy Johnny Jensen / jjphoto.dk

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A Bluefin First! Giant Tuna Caught off Wales https://www.sportfishingmag.com/bluefin-first-giant-tuna-caught-off-wales/ Thu, 10 Sep 2015 21:14:04 +0000 https://www.sportfishingmag.com/?p=46150 Bluefin tuna have been showing off Ireland recently and now, for the first time, Welsh anglers have been catching them.

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With more and more boats fishing off the coast of south-west Wales in recent years for sharks, reported sightings of tuna throughout August and September have become increasingly common. Oftentimes schools of feeding bluefin tuna, including individuals weighing hundreds of pounds, have been sighted feeding amidst vast pods of dolphins, and I suspected it was only a matter of time before one day an angler would actually hook one of these enormous pelagic predators.

It finally happened on Sunday, August 30, aboard Full Monty, a private Arvor 250 that is owned and skippered by Graham Bevan. ‘Bev’, as he is widely known, is a passionate shark angler who has caught many sharks fishing off the coast of Wales. He had sailed from Milford Haven along with crewmen Mike Steer and Clive Jenkins, and set up a drift 20 to 30 miles offshore in the Celtic Deeps This is the area which in recent years has produced truly phenomenal numbers of blue and porbeagle shark, along with the first mako and thresher shark ever recorded from Welsh waters.

Fishing a spread consisting of five rods in 400 feet of water, already they enjoyed a great days fishing with 10 blues boated. Then, around 10 in the morning, the ratchet on the reel fishing the farthest bait from the boat screamed out. “It was Mike’s turn to take the rod, and the fish took several hundreds of yards on its first run,” explained Bev. “Immediately it became apparent he was hooked up to something special, and at first we thought it was a very big porbeagle. Luckily, it was hooked on a strong outfit, consisting of a Shimano Antares 30- to 50-pound-class boat rod matched with a Shimano TLD 50 2-speed, loaded with 70-pound BS line and rigged with a 16/0 Mustad circle hook. Bait was a whole mackerel.”

“The fight lasted lasted around three and a half hours, but it wasn’t until I grabbed the leader that we realized it was a big tuna,” continued Bev. “Toward the end of the fight Mike was pretty much exhausted and later admitted he could not have continued for much longer, but he stuck at it and eventually we managed to boat the fish, unhook it, take a few photographs and successfully release it.”

The fish was estimated to weigh 250 to 300 pounds, and is the first bluefin tuna caught off the coast of Wales. If it did indeed weigh more than 300 pounds, then it is the largest fish ever caught from the Principality. A few days later a second fish estimated at 500 pounds, also hooked on a shark bait, was lost at the side of White Water, another boat fishing off south-west Wales.

Dave Lewis / davelewisfishing.com

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Iceland Fishing Excursions https://www.sportfishingmag.com/iceland-saltwater-fishing/ Tue, 11 Aug 2015 04:11:37 +0000 https://www.sportfishingmag.com/?p=45561 Fast fishing for big cod, pollock, wolffish and more in the sub-Arctic waters around Iceland

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Dreaming of a trip to Alaska for that northern fishing adventure of a lifetime? From New York that’s 11 ½ hours. But a flight from New York will get you to Rekjavik in just half that time, and will give you the chance to visit another country where the fishing is also wide open and the scenery also austere and unforgettable. But don’t take our word for it: Let these 25 photos by contributor Dave Lewis prove it. — SF Editors

Update: Lewis has just published a gorgeous 268-page book entitled Destination Angler. The 26 chapters cover the globe, including flats, reefs and blue water fishing. You can find out more by visiting his web site.

Scenic Icelandic drive
Classic Icelandic scenery on the mountain drive from Sudavik to Talknafjordur. Dave Lewis / davelewisfishing.com
Anglers fishing a rental boat off Sudavik Iceland
Anglers fishing aboard self-drive boats from Sudavik. Dave Lewis / davelewisfishing.com
Anglers double hookup fishing Iceland coast
Double hook up, a regular occurrence, when fishing the rich seas around the coast of Iceland. Dave Lewis / davelewisfishing.com
Angler saltwater sea fishing off Sudavik Iceland
Hooked up! Playing my first fish of the trip off Sudavik. Dave Lewis / davelewisfishing.com
Large pollock caught saltwater fishing Sudavik Iceland
The perfect start to any trip, a 33-pound coalfish (pollock) caught on spinning gear off Sudavik. Dave Lewis / davelewisfishing.com
Storm Ultra Shad fishing lure
My highly successful Storm Ultra Shad lure (19 centimeters, 120 grams) with which I caught almost all of my fish, including five 30-plus-pound coalfish, the best of which was 35 pounds, 4 ounces. Dave Lewis / davelewisfishing.com
Saltwater fishing boats for rent Sudavik Iceland
The self-drive fleet moored up at Sudavik. Dave Lewis / davelewisfishing.com
Sudavik Iceland fishing trip apartments for rent
Self-catering apartments at Sudavik, a two minute walk from the harbour. Dave Lewis / davelewisfishing.com
Cut squid wolffish fishing bait
Cut calamari squid is the go-to bait for wolffish. Dave Lewis / davelewisfishing.com
Squid skirted with rubber saltwater fishing skirt
A rubber squid skirt adds a splash of colour. Dave Lewis / davelewisfishing.com
Wolffish caught deep sea fishing off Iceland's coast
Terry Thomas holds a wolffish, a strong contender for both the ugliest and tastiest fish swimming off coastal Iceland. Dave Lewis / davelewisfishing.com
Fishing cabin Talknafjordur Iceland
A self-catering cabin at Talknafjordur. Dave Lewis / davelewisfishing.com
Dynjandi Iceland waterfalls
Stunning waterfalls at Dynjandi, on the mountain road from Sudavik to Talknafjordur. Dave Lewis / davelewisfishing.com
Icelandic Harlequin ducks
Beautiful Icelandic Harlequin ducks. Dave Lewis / davelewisfishing.com
Fishing boat Talknafjordur Iceland
A self-drive boat heading out to sea from Talknafjordur. Dave Lewis / davelewisfishing.com
Two anglers holding cod fish caught saltwater fishing Talknafjordur Iceland
Terry Thomas and Kai Biala, head guide at Talknafjordur, with a bragging size brace of cod. Dave Lewis / davelewisfishing.com
Big cod fish caught saltwater fishing Talknafjordur Iceland
Boating a nice cod off Talknafjordur. Dave Lewis / davelewisfishing.com
Big coalfish caught saltwater fishing Talknafjordur Iceland
Kai Biala with a big coalfish caught off Talknafjordur. Dave Lewis / davelewisfishing.com
Coalfish caught saltwater fishing Sudavik Iceland
Henri Karier, head guide at Sudavik, with a big coalfish caught on a shad. Dave Lewis / davelewisfishing.com
Large shad saltwater fishing lure
Big shads, lures weighing 14 ounces or more, are increasingly the go-to lures for anglers fishing for big cod and halibut off both Iceland and Norway. Dave Lewis / davelewisfishing.com
Wolffish caught fishing Sudavik Iceland
Dave Lewis holds a good wolffish caught off Sudavik. Dave Lewis / davelewisfishing.com
Cod caught fishing Talknafjordur Iceland
Kai Biala and Terry Thomas with a 37-pound cod caught off Talknafjordur. Dave Lewis / davelewisfishing.com
Sudavik Iceland dab saltwater fishing
Light tackle fishing with worm or fish baits will likely produce various species of flatfish, such as this dab caught in the harbour at Sudavik. Dave Lewis / davelewisfishing.com
Sudavik Iceland Arctic Fox Centre cub
Be sure to visit the Arctic Fox Centre at Sudavik, where this orphaned fox cub was photographed. Dave Lewis / davelewisfishing.com
Talknafjordur Iceland wildflowers
Icelandic summers might be short but they lack nothing in colour, as can be seen by this display of stream side wild flowers at Talknafjordur. Dave Lewis / davelewisfishing.com

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Bluefin Tagged Off Virginia is Recaptured near Spain https://www.sportfishingmag.com/species/conservation/bluefin-tuna-tagged-virginia-crosses-atlantic-be-recaptured-near-spain/ Thu, 29 Jan 2015 09:31:05 +0000 https://www.sportfishingmag.com/?p=44838 A tuna’s odyssey: seven years, 5,000 miles and 576 pounds later

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bluefin release 2007

bluefin release 2007

A quick snapshot of the small bluefin tuna caught by Di Ortiz before Ken Neill tagged and released it back out transom door through which it had been pulled onto the deck (no gaff was used). Courtesy Ken Neill

Fishing Washington Canyon off Virginia on July 18, 2007, Ken Neill and friends had a good day, catching yellowfin and bluefin. They kept one of the latter and tagged a second.

In June, 2014, fishermen recaptured that tagged fish — near Malta, in the Mediterranean, a straight-line distance of nearly 5,000 miles, according to information Neill just received from The Billfish Foundation.

The tuna was then kept in a pen until it was fattened and harvested in November of that year (2014). In seven and a half years, Neill’s tuna grew from about 40 pounds to approximately 616 pounds.

Neill, an IGFA rep from Virginia Beach and avid angler, works closely with Dr. John Graves, a professor at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. In fact, the primary impetus of Neill’s July 18 visit to the canyon was the hope of tagging small bluefin for VIMS.

The bluefin’s trans-Atlantic crossing is yet another instance of what scientists have come to realize — the free mixing of eastern and western bluefin tuna stocks. Graves says the tuna caught off Virginia was likely spawned in the Mediterranean, to which it had returned.

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Norway’s World-Record Cod Fishing https://www.sportfishingmag.com/species/fish-species/fishing-world-s-largest-cod/ Tue, 13 Jan 2015 13:26:03 +0000 https://www.sportfishingmag.com/?p=44828 Cod fishermen brave northern Norway's arctic winter seas in the hunt for giants.

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I’ve fished in many different conditions and countries, but this time I questioned my sanity. We were headed to the Arctic Circle in mid-March to target world-record-size cod.

There we’d face cold so bitter that salt water would freeze quickly to our clothing, braided line, reels, rods, boat and just about anything else the salt spray touched. Even the fish would freeze if we removed them from the water for long.

But the biggest obstacles are the massive waves and turbulent seas miles offshore. Smaller cod are available closer to the harbors, but giant females require a run far out to sea. Winter winds are reliably strong and constant, yet can still double in intensity without notice. If you were ever to fall into the water, hope that your flotation suit allows enough time for your friends to find you among the waves.

These are some of the most extreme sport‑fishing ­conditions one can experience. Check out the gallery above to experience this incredible wintertime fishery!

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The Colossal Cod of Sørøya

Survival suit, rubber gloves, and even a ushanka, are vital garments to wear when targeting the world’s largest cod in Norway. (Photo Credit: Johan Mikkelsen) Johan Mikkelsen
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Getting There

We booked flights north, and after two transfers, our last plane landed on a frozen, snow-traced runway in the town of Alta. The Norwegian fjords and offshore waters of Sørøya were our final destination, where we hoped to experience the renowned run of mature Atlantic cod that Norwegians call skrei. Even after landing, we still had 100-plus miles to go. On our first night, we stayed in a hostel, in a wilderness full of islands, fjords, reindeer and big fish. In the morning, we watched and cheered the last mushers finishing Finnmarksløpet, the world’s northernmost dog race. A bus named the Fisherman Express picked us up after lunch to head for the fishing village of Sørvær on the island of Sørøya. The road was full of winter beauty but also danger. Our bags were so full of pilkers (lead jigs) and soft baits that I’m certain the bus leaned off-kilter. During the journey, we felt like we were inside a snow tunnel as the bus passed through an escarpment near a fjord. Then we lost confidence in our driver when he busted his side mirror on an oncoming truck. The bus driver stopped to pick up the mirror, and then continued on at the same speed. Alta to Øksfjord was about 70 miles, and Hasvik to Sørvær added another 20. In between, we took an 85-minute ferry from Øksfjord to Hasvik, from which we could see ominous waves far out along the horizon. (Photo Credit: Johan Mikkelsen) Johan Mikkelsen
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The Colossal Cod of Sørøya

Happy to survive the ­four-hour trip to Sørvær, we knew the most dangerous moments were ahead: fishing from Swedish-made aluminum Arronet boats in brutal weather conditions. (Photo Credit: Radek Filip) Radek Filip
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The Colossal Cod of Sørøya

Soon after our arrival we met with local fishing guide Johan Mikkelsen. He said that our timing couldn’t be better: Just days before, two anglers caught 10 cod over 44 pounds. They didn’t count smaller cod, and released all the fish immediately. From Mikkelsen we learned the cod were holding at the final step of their migration in the open sea, close to seamounts and edges of the ­continental shelf. (Photo Credit: Johan Mikkelsen) Johan Mikkelsen
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The Colossal Cod of Sørøya

Headquarters for cod fishermen is Sørvær, Norway, located inside the Artic Circle. The top fishing months for record skrei are March and April, but also some of the coldest. Arronet fishing boats handled the salt spray frozen to the deck and turbulent waves offshore. (Photo Credit: Johan Mikkelsen) Johan Mikkelsen
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The Colossal Cod of Sørøya

At sunrise we met with Erik Axner, our Swedish guide. In total, four to seven boats fished each day with four anglers. Axner put on his ski mask to protect against the snow as we prepared for the run out to our first spot. Fortunately, the ride initially lasted only about 15 minutes; everybody talked about the great weather for the time of the year, but the waves were still 6 feet tall. “Big fish are showing from the bottom, at 130 meters, up to 70 meters (230 feet)!” yelled Axner. “We’ll lift them off the bottom if they’re biting. Remember, the biggest cod are always on top of the smaller fish.” Immediately, we hooked up to skrei. The best technique calls for anglers to land the fish slowly, increasing chances for the shoal of fish to follow them higher in the water column. At about 30 feet from the surface, we stopped reeling completely; cod need intermittent breaks to equalize pressure so they can be released without harm. We refrained from gaffing the cod when they finally made it to the boat, handling them gently and unhooking them for immediate release. Over the VHF radio, we heard that a nearby boat landed a cod weighing 64 pounds. Minutes later, a 57-pound cod is landed on another boat. (Photo Credit: Johan Mikkelsen) Johan Mikkelsen
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The Colossal Cod of Sørøya

All the boats around us reported cod catches over 44 pounds, and my friends answered them with 48-pound fish. I had no such luck. Soon after, Václav Heřman, a fellow angler, landed a 61-pound cod. Radek Filip
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The Colossal Cod of Sørøya

Axner tied on a 17-inch soft bait to deter the smaller cod, the same problem I’d encountered. He quickly landed a couple of skrei about 3 feet long, and soon fought a cod weighing 50 pounds. (Photo Credit: Radek Filip) Radek Filip
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The Colossal Cod of Sørøya

We slowly drifted with our 135-horsepower engine in reverse, but lost touch with the shoal of fish and moved on. At the next location, one boat had already landed a 72-pounder. We paid little attention to cod not weighing at least 44 pounds, and caught them up to 58. (Photo Credit: Radek Filip) Radek Filip
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Sign of the Aurora

However, the next morning, 5 degree F temperatures and strong winds made the actual cold feel much worse. We had to wear three layers of warm clothing but would have welcomed even more. Amazingly, some anglers who fish for cod in Sørøya seem immune to the bitter temperatures. We headed for seamounts 12 miles offshore and found fish immediately, though mostly smaller cod attacked our big lures. Smaller cod were the order of that day for most boats. My biggest fish went 33 pounds. Martin Urban and Heřman caught a couple of fish close to 44 pounds. (Photo Credit: Radek Filip) Radek Filip
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The Colossal Cod of Sørøya

That night, an aurora provided a full display directly behind our cottage. The dancing curtains of light quickly emerged and then hid, rather like large female cod. In the morning, we noticed that Hrubeš and Urban had frostbite on their fingers. Hrubeš toughed it out at sea, but Urban stayed ashore. We went out, but all of us were having difficulty with water finding its way into our gloves and under our collars, where it freezes almost immediately. Worse, we encountered high waves that prevented fishing beyond 6 miles offshore that day. (Photo Credit: Radek Filip) Radek Filip
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The Colossal Cod of Sørøya

The final day of fishing had us all hoping for a huge cod. We asked first-day guide Axner to take us out in the morning. To start, most spots held small fish, but then a radio call revealed that a nearby boat hand hooked a 55-pounder. Axner immediately motored us into position near the successful boat. A second boat landed a cod upwards of 44 pounds. My heart pounded faster as we started the drift. The guide marked big fish on the fish finder, and we dropped our baits quickly. The fish that bit were in a category known as the Sørøya Standard. These fish weigh up to 33 pounds, which is ­respectable in most parts of the world, but just average in Sørøya. Then the wind picked up and water sprayed ­everywhere, drenching the boat. (Photo Credit: Radek Filip) Radek Filip
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The Colossal Cod of Sørøya

On the airplane ride home, we realized there was little room for gloom. Between all of us, we had caught hundreds of cod in just a couple of days. That’s an astounding number of big fish anywhere in the world. Perhaps our hopes were too high after the first day, catching the majority of 40s, 50s and 60s then. Weather conditions had deteriorated further, and it wasn’t until the last day that monster cod ­reappeared on our fish finders. But that’s fishing, and skrei fishing is one of the most difficult and ­challenging fishing adventures the world has to offer. (Photo Credit: Johan Mikkelsen) Johan Mikkelsen
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Prepare for Sørøya

The island of Sørøya is beyond main tourist attractions. It’s an island of fishermen, where even more fishermen come for holiday. Gulf Stream temperatures warm the air and sea some, but climate in the Arctic Circle is rough. Daylight temperatures around 4 degrees below zero are common. The winters are very wet, with snow piles and snowstorms beating the frozen roads and towns. Northern Norway is often described as the Land of the Midnight Sun (May to July) and the Land of the Northern Lights (September to April). The best skrei fishing season is somewhere in between. The peak month for giant cod is March. Still, during mid-March, we wore one-piece flotation suits with several layers underneath, and insulated shoes. If the snow is falling, you need to wear a ski mask on the boat. The biggest issue is protecting your hands — only rubber gloves with a strong fleece layer can keep your hands dry and warm. In calmer summer months, small- and medium-size cod catches offer great fishing. Sørøya offers a surprising amount of other targets in warmer months too, species such as coalfish (pollock), tusk, catfish, haddock, halibut and plaice. Outfitters like Nordic Sea Angling (nordic-sea-angling.se; 46-070-211-23-40) provide the boats and fishing know-how to be successful most months of the year. (Photo Credit: Radek Filip) Radek Filip
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About Skrei

The word “skrei” originates from old Norwegian language meaning “to move or migrate.” Millions of skrei (Gadus morhua) travel from the Barents Sea to the Norwegian Coast each winter. Several different masses of mature cod migrate to the Norwegian islands and mainland from January to April. The most famous group spawns off beautiful Lofoten. Other groups head even farther north to Breivikfjorden Bay at Sørøya, where we fished for them. Often, the largest and biggest females come to shore first. Much smaller males move in later but dominate in pure volume. Skrei are famous for their tasty meat, sold commercially in Europe and the United States. (Photo Credit: Radek Filip) Radek Filip

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Celtic Sea Shark Hunt https://www.sportfishingmag.com/gallery/2014/06/celtic-sea-shark-hunt/ Wed, 11 Jun 2014 11:13:43 +0000 https://www.sportfishingmag.com/?p=44117 In recent years, the British Isles have become the hot new hood for porbeagles and other bad boys of the shark world.

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Target of the Hunt: The Porbeagle

It was that time of the year when the Welsh air was clear, crisp and sweetly tainted with the scent of fallen leaves lying on damp ground, when early in the morning on a windless day, a lazy mist floats effortlessly above the summer-warmed Celtic Sea. In the darkness a bit earlier, we had slipped out of Milford Haven Marina and made the run down past the great oil refineries of Milford Haven Inlet, located on Wales southwesternmost coast, about 60 miles southeast of Ireland. We hit the open sea at Saint Anne’s Head, the three of us savoring mugs of steaming coffee inside the cramped wheelhouse aboard White Water. We continued on out to the reef a few miles offshore, by which time the sun was slowly ascending into the eastern sky. There we had quickly filled a cooler with fresh mackerel for hook baits and chum before steaming a further 30 miles offshore on the slick-calm Celtic Sea to commence our drift. (This gallery is based on the feature “Celtic Sea Shark Hunt” by Dave Lewis, which appeared in Sport Fishing magazine.) Doug Perrine
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Last-Minute Hook-Ups

After several hours of action from blue sharks, Alsop made the call: “Another 10 minutes of fishing, and we head home.” The words had barely left his lips when first one, then a second, and then a third reel screamed out in unison as fish picked up the baits and swam off at speed toward the Wexford coastline of Ireland. Each of us grabbed a rod and came tight on hefty fish, a triple-header to finish our season! Dave Lewis
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The UK’s Finest Game Fish?

When Alsop reached out and grabbed my leader, we were able to confirm what we had already begun to suspect. These fish were not blues but much stronger, much faster porbeagle sharks, arguably the finest that game-fish anglers can realistically expect to catch around the coast of the British Isles. At 165 pounds, it was only my second and still largest porbeagle shark. (Though we kept this one and enjoyed eating it, Alsop releases nearly all sharks caught on his boat.) After several years’ experience fishing sharks offshore with friends, he was keen to open up and develop this then-little-known fishery to the U.K. market. And the rest, as they say, is history. Dave Lewis
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The Resurgence

Here in the U.K., shark fishing has always been popular. From the 1950s through the 1970s, a shark sport-fishing industry based along the south coast of England flourished. Mostly it targeted blues, but also porbeagles along with an occasional thresher and mako (the U.K. mako record is held by a 500-pound fish caught off Looe, Cornwall, in 1971). Through the ’80s and ’90s, the number of sharks caught around the U.K. coast dropped dramatically; subsequently, interest in the sport all but dried up. Most years, few porbeagles were caught; they’d become scarce due to excessive commercial fishing. Dave Lewis
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Shark-Rich Waters

Over the past decade, I’ve watched with growing admiration as my friend Alsop developed almost single-handedly the shark sport fishery off the southwest coast of Wales to what it is today: the finest shark fishery you’ll find anywhere in continental Europe. This past season, Alsop’s crew released a total of 1,168 sharks, mostly blues but including 58 porbeagles up to an estimated 235 pounds, plus the first mako ever recorded in Welsh waters, a 194-pounder as estimated by length/girth formulas. This map shows Alsop’s primary fishing grounds. Map by Brenda Weaver
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Shark Slams

Alsop has opened up what, at certain times of year, amounts to a reliable porbeagle fishery, with fish most often in the 80- to 120-pound range but regularly reach 200 pounds. Certainly it’s a superb destination for anyone looking to catch a porbeagle shark to complete an IGFA Shark Royal Slam (we also catch other sharks, notably plenty of tope, here in Wales too). “Each year we’re catching more and more porbeagles,” Alsop says, “and I feel this stems from the number of fish starting to show signs of recovery since the 2010 commercial ban, plus a greater understanding of the species. “We catch porbeagle right through our four-month season, but most are caught right at the beginning, during late June and July, and then again at the back end, in October. We see an occasional fish during the peak summer months, but by then there are too many blues around,” says Alsop. “We know that porbeagles have their pups around April and May off the north Devon and Cornish coast, less than 50 miles to the south of where we fish. Some huge porbeagles are caught very close to the coast in that area, and I assume we’re catching the back end of this run of fish. “Also I’m convinced that the fish we catch in October really represent the start of the porbeagle run. It would certainly be interesting to spend some time fishing out here throughout the winter months,” Alsop says. “After all, the world record, a 507-pounder, was caught in 1993 off the coast of northern Scotland.” Dave Lewis
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Power Chumming

Unlike blue sharks, which rarely venture into water less than at least a couple of hundred feet deep, porbeagles often come into very shallow water. Those caught off Devon and Cornwall during spring are often hooked within a half-mile from the coast. Porbeagle sharks move inshore to feed on pollack, cod and other reef species, as well as to give birth to their pups Porbeagle sharks often take residence on offshore wrecks too, making their presence known by biting off fish hooked by anglers. Whenever wreck fishing, Alsop always has a rod ready, rigged with a pitch bait; increasingly, this tactic is producing some of his biggest fish of the season. Until very recently, most of Alsop’s sharks were taken in the classic manner: Run offshore to the area to be fished, stop the boat, and start to drift while chumming a mixture of mashed fish and bran liberally laced with fish oil in mesh sacks hanging over the side, along with occasional chunks. This technique works well enough when there is sufficient wind and/or tide to create a decent drift and scent trail, but not so well in a calm sea. Dave Lewis
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Starting the Chum Trail

On those days, Alsop resorts to power chumming. When still a few miles away from the target area, the boat is slowed to a couple of knots, the chum bags deployed, and the boat continues on to the intended area, thus kick-starting the chum trail. A few years back, Alsop mused that they might as well also fish a few baits, slowly trolling them to see if anything wanted to eat — and sure enough, his crew started catching porbeagle sharks. This year he even briefly hooked a big bluefin tuna, which are occasionally seen but at the time of writing have not yet been caught off the coast of Wales (watch this space!). Dave Lewis
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Rigged and Ready

Porbeagles often appear at the boat within minutes of its stopping and commencing its drift. The waters in the Celtic Sea that Alsop fishes, known as the Celtic Deeps, are a major fishing area for the commercial fleet that targets white fishes such as cod and haddock. Alsop believes this behavior is a conditioned response from porbeagles foraging scraps and discards when trawlers stop to haul their nets. It has happened too often to be put down purely as coincidence. Consequently Alsop ensures at least one bait is rigged and ready to be fished the moment the boat stops. Tackle typically used in the Welsh shark fishery consists of a 30- to 50-pound-class boat rod matched with a lever-drag reel such as a Shimano TLD25 or 30, with a capacity of at least 600 yards of 30-pound monofilament. Certainly the average-size fish caught can be taken on much lighter gear, but you never know just when a really big girl is going to swim up the slick and eat a bait. Dave Lewis
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Butterfly Cut Mackerel

Alsop still uses some J hooks as in this butterfly of mackerel filets, though he has largely switched to circle hooks with great success. Some of Alsop’s traces are rigged with a sliding 2- to 4-ounce sinker to ensure the baits are fished at the correct depth and out of reach of diving gannets. Empty drink bottles are used as floats (since the pecking of gulls kept bursting our balloons). When drifting, Alsop typically fishes five rods, set from the surface, just below the chum bags down to 100 feet. Baits used include pretty much any type of fish — mostly mackerel, whiting, pollack and garfish (similar to but larger than ballyhoo). Since I first started fishing sharks with Alsop in 2003, as described at the start of this article, I have joined him many times over the years. Between the increasing expertise of skippers like Alsop, and the resurgence of large sharks, shark fishing off Wales just keeps getting better. Butterfly Cut Mackerel
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A Porbeagle Primer

Porbeagles are in the family of mackerel sharks, Lamnidae, and closely related to the mako and salmon shark, as well whites and threshers. Shown here is a salmon shark in the frigid waters off Alaska. Within the northern hemisphere, porbeagles are usually found from the Newfoundland Grand Banks through southern Greenland to Scandinavia and Russia. The southern limit of their range extends from New Jersey and Bermuda through the Azores and Madeira to Morocco (they’re considered extinct in the Mediterranean). Porbeagles are a highly migratory, schooling species, typically found near the surface on the open ocean as well as in coastal waters. It is estimated that porbeagles live for 30 to 40 years, with males maturing at about seven years and females at 12 to 14 years. They can grow to a length of more than 11 feet. Doug Perrine
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Tiny Teeth Tell the Story

Lateral denticles (the tiny “teeth” visible at each side of the long, triangular teeth) are characteristic of porbeagles (but not the closely related mako). Doug Perrine
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Electro Detection

The tiny holes visible in an extreme closeup under the snout of a porbeagle are part of an organ called the ampullae of Lorenzini. Extremely sensitive to changes in electrical fields, these help sharks sense struggling prey. Doug Perrine
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Hot Blooded

Porbeagles, like other large predators in the family Lamnidae, are homeothermic — able to maintain a body temperature warmer than ambient water. Their red muscles, located deep within the body, adjacent to the spine, consist of more than 4,000 small arteries arranged in bands. The porbeagle has one of the highest core temperatures within its family, as much as 14 to 18 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than the surrounding water. This allows the species to maintain higher cruising speeds, hunt in deeper water for extended periods of time, and enter higher latitudes during winter to exploit food resources not available to most other sharks. Sadly, the tasty porbeagle shark used to be heavily targeted commercially for its valuable meat, especially for European markets. This resulted in a population crash between 1981 to 2005 in the north and west Atlantic, which was estimated to be as much as 85 percent of their historic numbers. In 2010 the European Union banned commercial fishermen from landing porbeagles. Dave Lewis
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Visiting Wales

Andrew Alsop’s White Water is one of several boats based in and around Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, in southwest Wales, which specialize in shark fishing. With a relatively short season and demand at an all-time high, early booking of charters is essential. In addition to shark fishing, Alsop fishes reefs and wrecks for pollack, ling, cod, coalfish, bass and conger eel. Tope are plentiful over inshore grounds in June and July. For more information on fishing here, visit: whitewatercharters.co.uk and celticwildcat.com. Wales, particularly southwest Wales, is a magnificent destination for a vacation. The Welsh border is a two-hour run from London, and Milford Haven is another two hours away, with excellent roads all the way. Steeped in Celtic history, Wales (which has its own distinct language) is a “land of legends.” You’ll find countless quaint villages and towns, many with their own castle and/or other unique historical sights. A wide range of first-class accommodations is available throughout the principality, and a visit to Cardiff, the capital city, is a must. The rugged coastline is interspersed with broad sandy beaches; the interior remains completely undeveloped, consisting of mile upon mile of rolling hills and high mountains that feed many clean-flowing, free-running rivers and streams, which hold wild brown trout and (from June through September) excellent runs of salmon and sea trout, known in Welsh as sewin. Access to prime fishing is widely available. For more information visit: wild fishing wales and visit wales. Dave Lewis

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