The sea off the west and north Cornwall coast often attracts species normally found in the Atlantic, the Bay of Biscay and those around the Azores and Madeira. In 1985 a fish initially thought to be a shark was seen over several days swimming close to Newlyn Harbour. When it swam into the docks area it was identified as being a member of the tuna family, and locally based 15-year-old Andrew Pascoe, a member of the Mounts Bay Angling Society, resolved to catch it.
His first attempt failed despite the fish coming close to his spun bait, but his second session had a successful outcome. He was up at 4am and on the harbour’s North Quay within the hour, having collected a couple of fresh mackerel at the fish-market (his father was an inshore commercial fisherman as Andrew would also later become).
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