FIRST-time shark fishermen Nick Lane, of Washford, is basking in the glory of catching what is believed to be the biggest thresher shark ever caught in British waters.

Nick, with the help of fellow-anglers, hauled the 368lb monster aboard a Watchet-owned boat while fishing off the North Cornwall coast last Sunday (July 31).

“I had put a whole mackerel on my hook and, within 15 minutes of the rod being out, this huge shark jumped 15 to 20 feet out of the water. After that, all hell broke loose!”, he told the Free Press.

Nick, a father of four, who works at Williton Car and Commercial, said: “It took well over an hour, and all our efforts, to get the fish on board. It can take much longer to land these big sharks – but that was definitely long enough for me!

“We have broken the British record, the UK charter-boat record and the 50lb long-line record. The whole thing was an unbelievable experience.

“We made sure the shark wasn’t injured and when we had measured and photographed it we put it back in the water.

“It was a wonderful sight to see it swimming away. We couldn’t have killed a beautiful fish like that.”