A schoolboy on his first-ever skate fishing trip pulled two out of the water – and they tipped the scales at nearly three times his weight.
Kyle Jeffery, 14, who weighs 120lb (8.5st), was out on a boat last Saturday when he landed a 194lb (13.8st) female. He then went out on another fishing trip the next day – and caught a 130lb (9.2st) male.
The female fish, at 83in long, and the male, at 77in, were both taller than Kyle, from Oban, who is just over 6ft (72in) in height. The official UK record for a skate is 227lb, which was caught off the Isle of Mull.
Leigh Taylor, skipper of the Laura Dawn II charter boat – which plies the waters of the west coast searching for skate – said Kyle had been desperate to join a trip. The charters are so popular they are booked up for the rest of the year but when a party with a spare space agreed to let Kyle join them, he grabbed the opportunity.
Kyle said: “I had done fresh water fishing, sea fishing and fly fishing but last year I saw videos of guys catching skate, so I wanted to try that.”
Once the 194lb skate was hooked, a 75-minute battle commenced before Kyle reeled in the monster fish.
Oban High School pupil Kyle said: “I was only expecting to get a 100lb fish, not a 194lb one. It took me around the boat a couple of times. Leigh had to take it to the front of the vessel as there is only a foot or two to walk there.
"He took it round then gave the rod back to me. When the tide came in, it must have weighed more like 250lb [with the weight of the water]. A couple of guys on the boat helped by holding it while I got bit of a rest, so that I wasn’t breaking my arm.”
Leigh helped again once Kyle had reeled the fish in, showing him the correct technique to land it without harm, as all skate are put back into the water alive after being weighed and recorded.
Kyle said: “I was happy but exhausted and was chuffed to go out again on Sunday – even though my arms hurt. It was 11.20am on Sunday when the rod started bending, it took 40 minutes for me to get it in and I didn’t have help.”
Skipper Leigh said: “He did well and is a fast learner.”
Kyle plans to go on more fishing trips later this year. Leigh added: “We have bookings for 2024 already.”
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