A local fisherman made an extraordinary catch off the coast of Falmouth earlier this autumn. Fishing enthusiast Owen Mates after sailing ten miles out from Falmouth Bay, he landed a rare prehistoric wreckfish on September 28.
The elusive deep-sea species is seldom seen by humans and gets its name from its tendency to inhabit shipwrecks on the ocean floor. Owen Mates’ rare catch measured between 70 and 80 centimetres in length and weighed around 10 to 12 pounds—heavier than the average newborn baby. He believes it might surpass the current UK record for the heaviest wreckfish, which stands at 11 pounds 14 ounces and was set back in 2001.
Mr Mates, who runs the YouTube channel Kayak Fishing Cornwall, was originally out searching for sharks when he unexpectedly came across the rare deep-sea wreckfish. His trip took an unexpected turn as he reeled in the unusual catch, highlighting the unpredictable nature of ocean fishing, reports Devon Live.
He said: “We had a chum slick out and were targeting blue sharks when this strange-looking fish started circling the boat. At first, we had no idea what it was and then, after a few minutes, it took one of the shark baits – a mackerel flapper – on my rod.
“I couldn’t believe it when we got it to the side of the boat.”
He continued: “It wasn’t until we got home and checked online that we realised just how rare it was. The only record I could find was from 2001 and caught mid-Channel off Poole – nothing close to land like this. It could be one of the only wreckfish ever caught on a rod so close to the Cornish coast.”
After photographing his rare catch, Owen Mates released the wreckfish safely back into the sea. He expressed concern that its presence near Cornwall might signal shifting sea temperatures around the UK, with warmer currents attracting species typically found in the Mediterranean and Atlantic, such as tuna, sunfish, and now wreckfish.
These deep-sea predators usually dwell hundreds of metres below the surface, can grow up to two metres long, and live for as long as a century.
While juvenile wreckfish sometimes venture into shallower waters, catching one with a rod in British waters is extremely rare. The species is edible and known for its delicate flavour. Owen has shared footage of the catch on his YouTube channel, Kayak Fishing Cornwall.