Tope
Shark
A slender, fast-swimming, blue-grey shark with a pointed snout and a distinctly asymmetric tail — the upper lobe much longer than the lower — built for speed rather than power.
Facts
- One of the fastest inshore sharks in UK waters, capable of long, powerful runs when hooked.
- Migrates seasonally, arriving inshore through summer, often in estuary mouths and over sandbanks.
- Slow to mature and produces relatively few young, which makes the population vulnerable to overfishing.
UK fishing rules
Tope cannot legally be sold in the UK, and anglers are strongly encouraged to practise full catch-and-release — use a wire trace to avoid losing fish to bite-offs while still handling and releasing quickly.
Where to catch Tope (1 mark)
| Mark | Region | Season | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warrenpoint Front Shore | N. Ireland | Summer | Bigger baits fished from Gannaway Rock or by boat, mainly a Lough-wide summer fishery |