AN ABERAERON fisherman has spoken of his surprise at landing a spurdog only just shy of the Welsh record.

Dave Barber was fishing for tope off Cardigan aboard the Phoebe Jake skippered by Mark Roberts, of Aberaeron, when he landed the 18lbs 10oz catch, a member of the shark family.

Once plentiful in Welsh waters, spurdogs have been rarely found in Cardigan Bay in recent years.

“The first one I hooked went 16lb12oz on the scales and I was amazed,” Dave told the Cambrian News. “But then I hooked another one and it weighed 18lb10oz.

“That is only 14oz off the Welsh record which is amazing - fish like this haven’t been caught in Cardigan Bay since the 1980s.

“Back then spurs were common, but were almost made extinct by commercial fishing - they seem to be making a comeback now.

“People say there’s no fish in the bay - well, we know there are and some very good ones too!”