Scottish angler Craig Mackay has landed a massive 223lb common skate – way over the current British record – after and epic FIVE-HOUR battle.
However the 49-year-old won’t be claiming and new British best, because he returned the mighty fish to fight another day.
Halkirk angler Craig hooked the skate, which was probably as old as him, from a mark on the northern coast of the country that he declines to name.
The fish – which would have shattered the British shore caught record of 169lb 6oz – took a whole mackerel bait just 30 minutes after it was cast in.
But that was just the start of things for Craig, who admitted to getting cramp as the fish first tore off and then dived beneath a big undercut in the cliff.
Eventually the skate tired, although the landing of it was also fun. He and fishing partner Murray Farmer had to wait for a big wave before they could get it onto the rocks, weigh it and return it.
The current British shore caught record common skate was caught off the Isle of Lewis in 1994 by Gordon MacKenzie. The boat caught record of 227lb was caught off Tobermory, Inner Hebrides in 1986 by R Banks.