Species › Europe, UK & Ireland · Saltwater › Tope / Smoothhound

Saltwater

Tope / Smoothhound

Galeorhinus galeus · tope, school shark, soupfin shark

Water temp
54–66°F
Peak season
May–Aug
Best light
Daytime
IGFA record
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Tope / Smoothhound (Galeorhinus galeus.jpg)

Photo: Unknown · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons

OverviewWhere & WhenHow to CatchGearRegulationsRecordsForecastCatches

Overview

Tope are slim, grey houndsharks with a pointed snout and a large notched tail, reaching 6 ft (1.8 m) and 80 lb (36 kg), found around Britain, Ireland and the Atlantic coast of Europe, where they arrive in late spring to feed on mackerel, whiting and flatfish over sand and gravel. Smoothhounds, chiefly the starry smoothhound (Mustelus asterias), are smaller, blunter-headed sharks that root for crabs over mud and sand in estuaries and off beaches. Both are summer visitors inshore, both are released almost universally, and both give shore and small-boat anglers the fastest, longest runs available in European waters.

Typical sizeTope 20–40 lb (9–18 kg); smoothhound 6–12 lb (2.7–5.4 kg)
TrophyTope 60 lb+; smoothhound 15 lb+
Table fareMostly catch & release — tope are protected and must be returned in the UK

Where & when

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Both sharks move inshore as water reaches 54–57°F (12–14°C) in May, peaking June–August; southern England and the Irish Sea fish first, Scotland and the Hebrides into September.

Luce Bay, United KingdomSouthwest Scotland; historic big-tope boat fisheryThames Estuary (Essex and Kent shores), United KingdomPrime shore smoothhound beaches on peeler crabTralee Bay, IrelandKerry bay with shallow-water tope and smoothhound

How to catch

Running ledger with a fish baitFor tope, anchor uptide of a sandbank or channel and fish a whole or half mackerel on a 6/0–8/0 hook with a 3–4 ft wire or heavy mono trace on a running ledger. Let the fish run with the bait for several seconds before tightening.
Shore crab bait for smoothhoundCast a pulley rig with a 3/0–4/0 hook baited with peeler crab or hardback crab over sand or mud at dusk and on a flooding tide. Set the drag light; a hound hits and runs instantly and will snap a locked-up rod.

Gear

Rod12–14' beachcaster rated 5–8 oz, or 7' 20–30 lb-class boat rod
ReelLarge multiplier or 8000 spinning
Line25–30 lb mono or 40–50 lb braid; 80–150 lb mono rubbing leader, wire for tope

Lures

large soft-plastic shads (occasionally)big flashy spoons (occasionally)scent-dosed artificial baits

Baits

whole mackerelpeeler crabsquidsandeelhermit crab

Regulations

UK law prohibits retaining tope caught by rod and line, and smoothhounds are released by convention. No sea angling license is needed in the UK or Ireland, but handle sharks with care and unhook them in the water where possible.

Records

IGFA all-tackle world record: not listed. State and regional records are kept by each fish & wildlife agency.

Frequently asked

What is the difference between a tope and a smoothhound?

Tope are larger, slimmer and more pointed, with a long upper tail lobe and a mouth full of small sharp teeth for catching fish. Smoothhounds are stockier with a rounder head and flat, pavement-like teeth for crushing crabs; the starry smoothhound common in the UK has white spots along its back. Tope eat fish baits; smoothhounds want crab.

Bite forecast — Tope / Smoothhound

Recent catches

Posted by anglers on the live map, filtered to Tope / Smoothhound.

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