Night Fishing at Tankerton – Anthony Lands a 32.6lb Stingray
This one was all about a moment that none of us will forget anytime soon.
After a previous trip where Anthony helped us out with some much-needed lugworm down in Hythe, we promised we’d take him out for a proper fishing session. A promise we were more than happy to keep. So, plans were made, and Tankerton was the destination.
The Setup
Connor and I picked Anthony up and made our way down to the beach, where we met up with Aaron and his daughter. Not long after, Anthony’s uncle Ben arrived with his son Oliver. Spirits were high, rods were set, and we were all quietly hopeful of landing some smoothhounds.
Conditions couldn’t have been better — barely a breath of wind and surprisingly clear water. On paper, it looked perfect.
A Slow Start
As the night unfolded, it quickly became clear that things weren’t going to be easy. Baits were rotated — crab, squid, sardines, sprats — and rigs were all set up as pulley rigs, but bites were few and far between.
Connor managed to pull in a dogfish, saving himself from the dreaded blank, but for myself, Aaron, and Oliver, it just wasn’t happening.
Still, that’s fishing.
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The Moment Everything Changed
Then came the moment that completely flipped the session on its head.
Anthony hooked into something… and it was obvious straight away this wasn’t your average fish. What surfaced had us all in disbelief — a huge stingray.
Once landed and safely managed, it tipped the scales at an incredible 32.6lb.
For a young angler, that’s the kind of fish most people spend years dreaming about, I still aint got a Thornback yet and most will never see a Stingray!
A Powerful and Dangerous Catch
Getting up close to a fish like that is both thrilling and humbling. Stingrays are no joke — armed with a venomous stinger and a seriously bad attitude when provoked.
Before Ben could fully secure the tail, the ray lashed out multiple times, even managing to stab itself in the wing and draw blood. The speed and force behind that stinger was something else entirely.
It was a stark reminder of the power these creatures possess and the importance of handling them with care and respect.
The Winning Formula
Interestingly, the fish of the night didn’t come on the usual go-to baits.
Anthony caught his ray using:
A homemade pulley rig
A whole tiger prawn from Morrisons
Proof, if it was ever needed, that sometimes thinking outside the box pays off in a big way.
A Strong Finish
Just as we were wrapping things up, Ben managed to land a smoothhound, putting a nice finishing touch on what had already become a memorable night. Always loved the look of smoothies and this one was no exception, lovely looking fish.
The Real Highlight
While the fishing itself was slow for most of us, the real highlight was seeing Anthony’s reaction.
The excitement, the disbelief, and that unmistakable “I’ve just caught something massive” look stayed with him all the way home. Even exhausted, you could tell he was reliving the moment over and over in his head.
That’s what fishing is all about.
Final Thoughts
Not every trip is about catching loads of fish. Sometimes it’s about the people, the atmosphere, and those once-in-a-lifetime moments.
It was great meeting Ben and Oliver, brilliant to get Anthony out with us, and full credit to Connor for sticking the night out despite feeling rough — proper dedication.
Even though I blanked, I walked away buzzing.
Because seeing someone land a fish like that? That’s better than catching one yourself, ok thats a lie lol but honestly so happy for Anthony, what an amazing catch.
Looking Ahead
Something tells me this won’t be the last trip we do with Anthony. And after a catch like that, expectations might be slightly higher next time…
But that’s fishing.
You never know what’s waiting out there.
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