https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-60330355.amp 

Scientists - looks like every man and his dog are at it.

                                                 TOPE.

Done a little sea fishing thanks to a friend who had a house on the sea front at Criccieth and a small motor boat moored at Port Maddoc.  We often fished offshore between Cricieth and Pwllheli About a mile or so offshore the water was mostly about 30 feet deep or so and after pursuing a few mackerel for bait, not always easy, we used to fish for Tope.  On my first visit there I was lent a rod and appropriate tackle and dropped a lip hooked fresh mackerel overboard.  I settled down for a long wait.   The weather was fine and very hot on land so I wore shorts which I rarely did but we soon found out that sea fog, which came down as we anchored up was exactly the opposite and it was quite chilly in fact.

However a short time later the bait was picked up and line crept off the spool.  I let it go for several yards before lifting the rod, engaging the check and I was into something the like of which I had not felt before as it ripped off 50 yards or so of line in a flash.  A long fight followed and eventually the fish wallowed on the surface some way from the boat.  My Initial though was “I hope that’s not coming in here”   eventually it did as my friend hand lifted it into the boat where it caused havoc.  Eventually it settled down, we unhooked it carefully and managed to take the photograph below, and returned it safely   No idea how much it weighed but you can judge for yourself.   Made a good many trips after that and often used my Carp rods and reel which gave great sport.

One particular day we had not done so well and were returning home early when we came across a shoal of baitfish being attacked by something from below and by  the gulls above. We stopped and I put out a small section of mackerel on my carp tackle.  This was picked up immediately by a Tope.   We had fourteen Tope that afternoon in a couple of hours.  Hectic and memorable to say the least and the biggest haul we ever had,.