Norwegian record Tope shark: 10.6 kg

About Tope shark

The tope shark (Galeorhinus galeus) is a slim houndshark that can grow to nearly 2 m and around 40–45 kg. It is dark bluish grey above and white below, with a long, pointed snout. It may recall the spiny dogfish, but it has an anal fin and no spines in front of the dorsal fins. It is a coastal species that feeds both near the bottom and up in midwater, from the shallows down to about 800 m. Fish make up most of its diet, together with squid, crustaceans and echinoderms. Females give birth to live young, often 20–50 in a litter. It occurs in temperate seas around much of the world. In Norway it is found north to Trøndelag, but it is not thought to breed there. Global numbers have fallen steeply, and the IUCN lists it as Critically Endangered (CR). Norwegian Red List 2021: Not Applicable (NA).

Sources: Artsdatabanken, Store norske leksikon, Wikipedia

• Habitat: Saltvann
• Best month: Februar

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How to register a Norwegian record

1. Norwegian sport-fishing records are registered with Villmarksliv, not with FishComp. Read the rules before you do anything else with the fish.
2. Records are based on weight and approved by a jury. You give the weight and length, where it was caught, the gear you used and any witnesses.
3. Keep your photos and notes from the catch. Logging it in FishComp does not register a record.