Unusual catches: Orange and blue Holy Island lobster and Sturgeon off Newhaven
8th November 2016
Holy Island static-gear fishermen Sean Brigham and Richard Ward were surprised to see a highly unusual-looking lobster recently when fishing on their fast potter Freedom B BK 532, reports David Linkie.
The Cygnus Cyclone 35 was hauling off the coast of North Northumberland when a lobster featuring a perfectly divided orange and blue tail, came over the gunwale rail in one of the pots.
The distinctly-coloured orange and blue lobster caught by the Holy Island fast potter Freedom B. (Photograph courtesy of Sean Brigham).
Sturgeon caught off Newhaven offered to Her Majesty the Queen
While out fishing from Newhaven in East Sussex, on his boat Bounty Hunter RX 448, fisherman Daniel Rathbone was somewhat surprised to see a 14kg sturgeon in his net, reports John Periam.
“I have been fishing here most of my life and this was very much a first for us. My crew Pat O’Gorman and Stefan Bryant were as surprised as I was, when we saw this head looking at us from the net.
“Back on shore we took it to local fish wholesaler MCB Seafoods at Newhaven where Mike Bish suggested we offer it to Her Majesty the Queen. Her office responded with grateful ‘no’, but suggested it could be sold, and the money given to charity.”
Newhaven fisherman Daniel Rathbone with the 14kg sturgeon caught two miles south of Newhaven, East Sussex.
Daniel then decided to seek further advice from Paul Johnson, the South East Principal Marine Officer for the MMO, and it was agreed to send it to the Natural History Museum in London for DNA testing so it could be aged and sexed. Paul Johnson said, “I believe the French are re-stocking some rivers with this fish, which could have resulted in it escaping into the channel. It certainly is a rare catch for the UK.”
The last reported sturgeon in the Channel was in 1999, again in the same area two miles south east of Newhaven.
Daniel Rathbone and his wife Margaret added: “This is what makes fishing worthwhile – there are climate changes, and as reported several different types of fish are now be caught off our coast – it is nice to be part of the élite few fishermen who have been involved in catching such a rare fish, and we look forward to hearing the Natural History Museum’s findings.”
Read more from Fishing News here.
Holy Island static-gear fishermen Sean Brigham and Richard Ward were surprised to see a highly unusual-looking lobster recently when fishing on their fast potter Freedom B BK 532, reports David Linkie. The Cygnus Cyclone 35 was hauling off the coast of North Northumberland when a lobster featuring a perfectly divided orange and blue tail, came over the gunwale rail in one of the pots.
The distinctly-coloured orange and blue lobster caught by the Holy Island fast potter Freedom B. (Photograph courtesy of Sean Brigham).
Sturgeon caught off Newhaven offered to Her Majesty the Queen
While out fishing from Newhaven in East Sussex, on his boat Bounty Hunter RX 448, fisherman Daniel Rathbone was somewhat surprised to see a 14kg sturgeon in his net, reports John Periam. “I have been fishing here most of my life and this was very much a first for us. My crew Pat O’Gorman and Stefan Bryant were as surprised as I was, when we saw this head looking at us from the net. “Back on shore we took it to local fish wholesaler MCB Seafoods at Newhaven where Mike Bish suggested we offer it to Her Majesty the Queen. Her office responded with grateful ‘no’, but suggested it could be sold, and the money given to charity.”
Newhaven fisherman Daniel Rathbone with the 14kg sturgeon caught two miles south of Newhaven, East Sussex.
Daniel then decided to seek further advice from Paul Johnson, the South East Principal Marine Officer for the MMO, and it was agreed to send it to the Natural History Museum in London for DNA testing so it could be aged and sexed. Paul Johnson said, “I believe the French are re-stocking some rivers with this fish, which could have resulted in it escaping into the channel. It certainly is a rare catch for the UK.” The last reported sturgeon in the Channel was in 1999, again in the same area two miles south east of Newhaven. Daniel Rathbone and his wife Margaret added: “This is what makes fishing worthwhile – there are climate changes, and as reported several different types of fish are now be caught off our coast – it is nice to be part of the élite few fishermen who have been involved in catching such a rare fish, and we look forward to hearing the Natural History Museum’s findings.” Read more from Fishing News here.
