A fisherman has told Sky News Online how he landed a 16ft thresher shark just 200 yards off the North Yorkshire coast.
Pip Farline and his monster catchPip Farline, 44, and four friends heaved the half-ton monster aboard his 18ft fishing boat after discovering it tangled in salmon nets off Filey, near Scarborough.
"At first I thought it was a porpoise but when I realised what it was I called on some friends for help.
"They couldn't believe it," Pip said.
Once ashore the lifeboat crewman and pals posed for pictures with their once-in-a-lifetime catch, before using a mechanical digger to load it into a van.
The shark - thought to be the first caught off the North Yorkshire coast in 80 years - was later sold to a local agent for £210.
But Pip, whose previous biggest catch was a 28lb salmon, said he was more interested in bagging the beast, than banking the cash.
"As a fisherman it was amazing to catch such a magnificent fish," he said.
"You just don't expect to ever see something like that in 20ft of water off the Yorkshire coast."
Pip's friends were also amazed after hearing about their pal's seaside success.
Bruce Pawson said: "Usually it's salmon, trout and bass for Pip...but this was a once in a lifetime catch."
Subject: Shark Shock For Yorkshire Fisherman 
July 20th 2007, 11:15
