Video at site.
Posted on 01/29/2021 10:05:29 PM PST by nickcarraway
The footage was captured by local angler Mark Frith at 5pm Tuesday
When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they’ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. OurPrivacy Noticeexplains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. An angler was left 'gobsmacked' after footage of his 20-minute battle to protect his catch from a hungry seal received thousands of views.
Mark Frith, an angler and line wholesaler from Barnstaple, had been fishing off Ilfracombe Pier for a couple of hours on Tuesday when he caught the eel, which he weighed at 10lb.
As he reeled the fish to the surface, the seal grabbed on to the tail of the eel and refused to let go.
Mark, who has thirty years of angling experience, said that he had to use all his knowledge to prevent the sea mammal from getting injured in the encounter.
He said: "I tried to coax it slowly but surely for about 15 minutes along the pier as I didn't want the line to snap or it to be wrapped in line.
"I have a border collie and you know how they grab onto the end of a rope toy and shake it? We were doing that with an eel.
"It's amazing the grip they've got. I felt really sorry for the conga eel, to be honest."
After finally removing the eel from the seal's mouth, Mark said he had to hide it at the top of the pier as the seal refused to leave.
The seal returned to the sea after being given bait by the fisherman. The eel was also released.
Footage of the seal was recorded by multiple eyewitnesses and sent to Mark via social media, which was edited together by his eldest son. The video was posted to the Lakebed Leads Facebook page and quickly gained thousands of views.
Mark said: "I've been up Ilfracombe Bay loads of times and have seen porpoises and dolphins and the like. I have never had to deal with anything like this before."
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“I’m gobsmacked at the attention the footage has got but I’m glad everyone is enjoying it. Especially in this time, it’s good to give someone a little joy for a few minutes.
"It's one of those experiences where you can feel quite privileged. It's not going to happen every day."
Video at site.
That eel is only 10 lb.? It looks as big as the man’s leg.
I was thinking, it looks pretty big for that seal.
That’s quite a catch!. I’m not surprised he had to fight with a seal to keep it. Seals are a very aggressive animal. Distant cousins to dogs. Both are canines, although seals belong to a group of mammals called ‘’pinnipeds’’ they have fur, whiskers and canine teeth, and hair, are predators and live in packs very similar to how dogs in the wild live.
i know, it’s almost as big as the snakes, pythons, they catch in florida and claim weigh in at ‘110lbs, 120 lbs’ or whatever, and the fellas pick them up one handed, hold them out straight with one arm as they try to get them into the bag, and sling them over their shoulders like they are nothing- lol
either those fellas hunting the snakes should join in the World’s Strongest Man competitions, or there is no way those snakes weigh that much- They were carrying like 4-5 snakes apiece, at a time on their way out- each snake supposedly 100+ lbs?
Anyways- surprised the ells was said to only weigh 10 lbs, looks like it should weigh more- quite a bit more actually- but hwo knows-
And they will aggrevate the dickens out of you when diving in a kelp forest.
Snakes can easily weigh that much, especially the exotic constrictors that are loose in Florida... they’re several times longer than the eel, and fatter.
“You’re not gonna throw me back in with that seal waiting for me, are you?”
i know they can get that large- but seriously- these fellas are holdign supposedly 100+ lb snakes out at arm length? and carrying 4-5 snakes at a time which supposedly weigh 100+ lbs apiece? They woudl be carrying 4-500 lbs if that were the case- these fellas aint that strong-
The eel in that pic is 43 lbs, caught by the same guy back in 2014. They probably should have mentioned that in the pic caption.
Chop the eel in half.
I’ve never gone scuba diving. But I do know what you’re talking about. Seals are a very curious animal, prone to be aggressively ‘’playful’’ if such a thing can be said. Here on The Jersey Shore we don’t see them very often. It’s rare when they come around.
Most likely I imagine they prefer warmer waters.
Aw, that seal was just a cub and that eel was just a home aquarium attraction. That, having been said, the eel should have been awarded a Medal of Honor for surviving the both of them and making it back into the sea alive.
Maybe 10 kilo?
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