Basking Sharks in English Channel

[POD II]

Has anyone seen Basking Sharks off the south coast?

I believe they're not uncommon particularly off the Cornish coast, but has anyone seen them further East off of Dorset?

 

[longjohnsilver]

Normally too early to see them in March. A good few years back, coming back from Cherbourg, we came across a school/pod of about 20 between the shipping lanes. Fantastic sight, right in the middle of them all, nudged the hull a few times.

 

[CLB]

Have seen them off Dorset, Devon and Cornish coasts, as well as mid Channel Needles to Cherbourg.

 

[SEARANGER ANCASTER]

see them up here in the Clyde regularly so if they come this far north , every chance they are off Dorset too. Way to early though , normally up here in August time.

 

[kcrane]

Has anyone seen Basking Sharks off the south coast?

I believe they're not uncommon particularly off the Cornish coast, but has anyone seen them further East off of Dorset?

We saw one off Plymouth last May, so barely in Devon, but pictures here:

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?395699-Basking-Shark-off-Plymouth&highlight=basking+shark

 

[Fimacca]

Pilot whales last summer off exmouth, only seen baskers in Scotland thus far.........

 

[The Dogs Pollacks Brother]

Seen them mid channel plenty of times over the years whilst on charter fishing trips. Saw plenty off the West Wales coastline in the last few years....they are more common than people think. Actually had one just 30 or 40 yds off the coast a few years back in St Brides bay one sunny August evening. Now if he had taken my float fished sand eel bait instead of the Pollack I was catching, then that would have been a test of my tackle and skill!