Joiner John Harris made the long drive from his home county of Essex to Gwynedd in Wales more than worthwhile with a monster shore caught tope weighing 37lb.

The Dovercourt angler was acting on a tip-off from Pwllheli tackle shop D&E Hughes, who told him the area had been producing big tope at night.

John baited up with sandeel on a 4/0 Pennel rig and tope trace, and hooked the big fish on only his second cast.

It put up a mighty fight for 20 minutes, before John landed and weighed the member of the shark family and returned it alive.

The British shore caught tope record stands at 58lb 2oz, caught from Baggy Point, North Devon in 1982.