A FISHERMAN has described his “exhilarating” bank holiday weekend after reeling in a five-foot shark off the coast of Aberystwyth.

Brian Gatley, from Aberaeron, was out fishing with friends at ‘Patches Reef’, which is about six miles north-west of Aberystwyth, when he had a stronger bite than he expected.

After struggling with his catch for 45 minutes, Mr Gatley eventually discovered it was a shark on the end of his line, and not the black bream he was expecting to snag.

David Wilcockson, a marine biologist at Aberystwyth University and a keen fisherman, told the Cambrian News Mr Gatley’s catch was probably a ‘tope’ shark — or Galeorhinus galeus — which is not considered unusual for the waters of Cardigan Bay, and is fortunately not particularly dangerous.

Mr Gatley said: “I was talking to a few friends and apparently mackerel shoals usually start to come in about this time of the year, and the sharks know their migratory route and wait for them.

“I caught one last year as well — it was later on in the year and the shark was much smaller. This one I caught is close to as big as they get.

“It weighed about 35 to 40 pounds, and must have been four to five feet long.

“It was slightly exhilarating. I was struggling with it for 45 minutes because you have to let it tire itself out. My arms were aching afterwards.”

Watch footage of the spectacular catch below and see this week’s south editions for the full story, in shops and online now