Ulster Fisherman’s Close Encounter with a Giant Turtle
A Strangford fisherman last night spoke of his delight after coming
across a six-foot-long leatherback turtle while fishing in the lough.
Andy Elliot hooked the massive sea creature, not usually seen in UK
and Irish waters until much later in the year, while out in his kayak
on Sunday.
He explained that he was heading back to Portaferry on Sunday after a
day's fly fishing when he hooked "something huge" from his special
angling sea kayak.
"I looked at my fish finder and could see that the seabed was sandy
and there were no boulders or seaweed that I could have caught my line
on," he said.
"After a few minutes, a large shape surfaced around 100 metres from my
kayak. As I reeled in my line, I pulled myself towards the object with
some trepidation.
"I gradually realised I had hooked a huge turtle! I couldn't believe
my eyes - it was almost two metres in length."
Mr Elliot, of www.boat-angling-ireland.com, pulled alongside the
majestic visitor and unhooked the fly which had caught the turtle's
shell where it meets the neck.
"The turtle was unhurt. I then spent around an hour paddling alongside
this most incredible creature. It was a very special experience," he said.
Experts believe the leatherback may have ended up in Strangford after
being blown off course during the recent stormy weather.
Andy's sighting was followed up the next day when it was spotted close
to Portaferry marina by ferry passengers.
Tania Singleton of Exploris Aquarium in Portaferry said: "Five of the
world's seven species of marine turtle have been recorded in UK and
Irish waters, with two species, the leatherback and loggerhead turtles
recorded off the Northern Ireland coast.
"Leatherbacks lay their eggs on tropical beaches but migrate thousands
of miles to cooler waters in pursuit of their favourite food -
jellyfish. Although rare, the leatherback makes regular visits to our
coast - though sightings at this time of year are exceptional as
jellyfish are not abundant. "
The leatherback turtle is the largest of the turtle species. It can
reach a total length of about 1.8m (6ft) and a weight of about 540kg
(1,200lb).
Gary Burrows from the Environment and Heritage Service said that there
have been 36 recorded sightings of turtles since 2006, 90% of which
were leatherbacks.
Belfast Telegraph: March 2008
