Blue shark, a trip of a life time.

Hi everyone.
It has been a while since I have been flat out between work, holidays and of course fishing.
Well this one is all about a very special trip that finally went ahead after many attempts to get it done.
It started back last year when I tried to book a charter to take us out to the blue sharks and most said they would but then back tracked due to safety etc.
But we are big enough to take responsibility for our own actions and I contuined to try and get one booked, with not much luck.
But last summer I met James Leahy who although was new to kayak angling he was mad to give it a go. Its common for people to say they want to fish shark from a kayak but not many will really try.
But this year was different with a good head of tope about to test the lads and some more experience I was confident of getting a good crew together for the challenge.

Would it ever happen.
So a plan was hatched to get as many as possible out together.
But again on the Wednesday before the boat rang to cancel due to unforeseen events.
I was very disappointed. But James had an ace up his sleeve that I knew nothing about.
He had been talking to one of Corks finest shark anglers Kieran Ring and he was actually keen to see blue shark caught from a kayak.
I was a bit taken aback and I still had my doubts if it would happen.
But the plans where made and myself and James and Kieran met in Youghal co.Cork.

2.15pm The launch/loading
Now we met Kieran and he was a very decent man and told us to load gear as he had to nip back for something.
Well myself and James where loading away at the kayaks on to Kieran's warrior style boat and I turned to James and said he does know we are bringing kayaks doesn't he lol. James said I hope so lol. I was expecting Kieran to come back and shout get that lot off my boat lol, thankfully he didn't
Kayaks loaded and we waited for Kieran and there wasn't much room left for any of us but he never batted an eye lid and said as long as she gets up on the plane we are laughing.

2.45pm Out we went.
Engine started and off we went, the engine revs getting higher and higher, would she plane I wondered. What do you know she did, no bother to her.
We where skipping across the chop at an impressive rate. Covering the 15miles in reasonable time.
First stop was bait which we got plenty so out we carried on with enough to do the day. So with massive expectations out we went.

On the shark grounds.
The engine slowed and the excitement rose as it was time to launch the kayaks.
I was busting to get out, mackerel chumed and baits readied we where set for action.
I was first on the water soon followed by James.
You could have cut the atmosphere a knife the excitement was much.
I lowered my bait and sent my balloon out to wait for some action.

The wait.
We sat there and Kieran offered not to put a line in at all to give us a chance but we couldn't do that and he had a line out very close to the boat.
We where out about 40yards in the chum slick waiting for something to happen.

First signs of life.
Fourty minutes passed and not a sniff, that was until Kieran's bait got a take.
A half hearted take resulted in a miss and soon after another miss for Kieran. He said it must be a small shark. Small or not I was on the edge of my seat with the excitement.

My chance.
About 10 minutes later, my line got a pluck, then another and after seeing how he hit Kieran's I let him have a good go, until the balloon started to go down.
With 2 or 3 good strikes the hook was set and great fight ensued.
We new it wasn't a monster but it was the first blue from a kayak in Ireland or the Uk that we new of, so it was a special fish what ever the size.

The fight was like that of a smart mullet, he let me get him close several times and when you think you have him beat he would scream off in a powerful run. I was having the time of my life.

Blue shark in and photo I was over the moon it was around 35lb to 40lb.

Now to say I was delighted is an understatement. I couldn't thank Kieran and James enough.

More surprises to come.
Things went quiet for the next few hours and James chances of a shark where fading. But we don't give up easy.
About 9pm we where sitting there and Kieran said this is the last bag lads make the most of it.
With that about 20mins later James rod took off and I mean took off. Reel screaming and James screaming with delight. It was a dam good fish.
But it wasn't to be. As the shark poured off the line the pressure sank the braid into the reel and jammed it, and as James tried to free it the shark got a small bit of slack line and headed for the horizon. With that his 40lb snapped like it was thread.
Oh it was a killer to see him loose what may have been his only chance for this trip.
But Kieran said rig up again I'll stay until dark.
No sooner had Kieran said that he got a hit close to the boat. What do you know a small porbeagle for Kieran  a shark he has been after for years.

9.30pm Hook up number 2
No sooner had Kieran released his Porbeagle I was thinking should I change my bait. But no need as I just got a small hit, then again something along the lines of a pike gently taking a bait and in no hurry. As the balloon started to head away I again struck hard 3 times and the shark answered with a power full run, and run and run, there was no stopping her she poured line off as I upped and upped the drag until she was dragging me every where. By this time James had gotten himself re-rigged and was fishing again.
And very soon after he was in also, to a good shark.
So picture it 2 lads being towed around the place by good sharks with no land for at least 15miles and the 2 of us quoating various lines from jaws, Including the one we need a bigger boat lol.

10.10pm
James fought his fish for around 30 mins and got his in and was estimated around 80lb to 90lb.

Mean while I was still making little progress on the beast that was attached to my line. It was a serious battle and when ever I thought I was making progress she would head for the bottom, all 250ft of it.

10.30pm Up she comes.
Eventually after an epic fight up she came as it was getting dark 1hour and 5mins to be exact, the most fantastic shape of a shark appeared under my kayak. It was near dark and the massive white belly could be seen coming to me, head shaking and rolling all the while.

I was busting to get it on my lap for a trophy pic but was wondering how the hell that was going to happen. I got the wire trace in my hand pulled the beauty onto my lap as much as I could. But I couldn't get it on all the way.

 I shouted to James if he held the wire I could grab its pectoral fins and haul her up. But when James was met with this [Picture below] He reckoned Kieran could get a better hold lol.

I couldn't blame him, she had a mighty set of teeth.
Thankfully Kieran came over and helped me to land the hark on my lap and then brough the shark into the boat for an accurate measurement.

At first we believed she came in at 133lb but a redo of the calculation seems she was 99.7lb. To me a monster and I was over joyed to say the least. Very soon after she was returned to the water,  just before she nearly rolled me over, as there was a lot of weight on one side of the kayak.Then off she swam and that was the end of our epic journey.
A massive thank you to James Leahy and Kieran Ring as with out them it never would have happened.
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy the video of it all below.

Here is James video as well, enjoy.