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Northern Ireland angler survives crocodile attack

Thursday, 15 October 2009

Fermanagh angler Tim Smith with a prize Nile Perch

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An angler from Northern Ireland has survived a crocodile attack to land a giant fish while on holiday in Africa.

Tim Smith came within inches of being snapped up by the mighty predator as he battled the 249lb Nile perch on the end of his line.

Back safely behind his desk at Portora Royal School in Enniskillen this week the 39-year-old art teacher has been recalling the moment the fish and the crocodile struck.

Tim was fishing from a small boat on the Victoria Nile in Uganda, about a mile downstream from the stunning Murchison Falls, when the huge perch grabbed his bait.

“For the next 45 minutes this fish took me up and down the river,” he said.

All that commotion seems to have attracted the attention of the crocodile, which Tim glimpsed out of the corner of his eye.

“Suddenly the boat lurched and I nearly fell out,” he recalls.

“I didn’t really know what had happened.”

He was standing at the back of the boat beside the engine with his feet wedged against the stern, straining into the fish.

“The next thing is, the crocodile launches itself at me, mouth wide open,” said Tim.

Fortunately for him it had misjudged its jump and fell short, hitting the side of the boat.

“If it had launched itself another foot I’m sure it would have got hold of me,” he admitted.

“It obviously hit the front of the boat to try and knock me out and then went to the other side. This thing was attacking the boat.”

“When you realise something that size is trying to eat you it’s really quite daunting. I just fell back into the centre of the boat, still holding the rod.”

Almost 45 minutes had elapsed and fish was now exhausted and lying flat on the surface of the water just a few yards from the boat.

“I just saw the crocodile swim up and grab the fish’s tail and spin it around in a death roll but because of the size of the fish it couldn’t get a proper grip,” said Tim.

The Nile perch made one final dive to get away from the crocodile and Tim was able to get close enough to the fish to grab it and tie it to the side of the boat.

Tim said: “I pulled up the anchor as fast as I could. By the time I got the engine started the crocodile was just coming around. I slammed into gear and the croc dived and disappeared.”

He drifted down the river for about half a mile and tied the fish to a tree and went to a nearby wildlife safari lodge to get help.

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Regardless of everyones opinion, he is alive and thats what counts, in normal circumstances, I would love to hook a fish that size, and for this man to have survied an ordeal like that and still have his catch, well done. Fishing the Lakes wont seem anywhere near as exciting after that. Well done Tim. When you going back for more?

Posted by Les Pickering | 18.10.09, 09:58 GMT

Well done Tim, congrats on your fish and your attitude to fishing, wish there where more lik you. Here where I fish, mainly carp, you can be prosecuted for returning fish, if they are over size, 35cm for carp, to me and many a backward attitude. Lets hope the German laws will soon change, more people here are returning big carp, but do keep the smaller ones to take home..

Posted by Arthur Roughley | 17.10.09, 09:03 GMT

Tim- In all honesty that is a fair and justified reply. The report only tells half the story. I retract some of my previous comment. I too know how hard it can be to revive fish. But I am sure the locals did not see the fish go to waste.

Tight lines.

Posted by postcat | 16.10.09, 15:45 GMT

Tim

Sincere apologies. Should have questioned before jumping in with both feet on the assumption you killed the perch just to show off.

James

Posted by James | 16.10.09, 15:19 GMT

In reply.The full article is in the Impatial reporter reluctantly on my part. It was abbreviated for the Tele. Missing detail -spent a long time in the dark trying to revive the fish -gased up from diving deep during the fight. Also it had a very serious injury from the croc -punctures going right through the base of the tail bleeding heavily. Tried everything to get the gas out including lowering the fish into a deep part of the river attached to a weight. There comes a point when it is no longer ethical to continue revival attempts. I take fish welfare seriously, I have caught many Perch and with the acception only of this one returned them all as carefully as possible. I don't usually lift bigger fish out of the water. In hindsite, I probably should have cut the line before the Croc attacked it. There is no one more sorry than I. Had I not been fishing alone we may have stood a better chance of reviving the fish. If you think you could have done more- go ahead cast the first stone.

Posted by Tim Smith | 16.10.09, 14:11 GMT

That's nearly as big as the bass I caught at Portrush last year ;-)

Posted by Mark | 16.10.09, 12:33 GMT

to bad for the croc, forget the fish its payback time maybe next time!!

Posted by dave | 16.10.09, 02:24 GMT

the spice of life, I wish I had been there and done that.

Posted by Seaswabby | 16.10.09, 02:01 GMT

Ha ha - listen to all the jealous anglers here. That's a cracker fish. I didn't know they came that big!!

Posted by JJ | 15.10.09, 13:47 GMT

Two schools of thought here. I am a sport hunter and fisherman. Were an animal does not need to be destroyed it should not be. It is a pretty big waste- although I am sure the natives did not see it go to waste and made use of the fish. However the angler should have made sure of theis before dispatching the fish. Just my humble opinion.

I suppose it can be compared the the Irishman who caught the sahrk not so long ago and killed it sparking a lot of controversy.

Posted by postcat | 15.10.09, 12:13 GMT

Pity the croc didnt get him then the poor fish might have lived! I'm a keen angler, but the thought of killing something like that just to boast is a disgrace! Ever hear of Catch and Release?

Posted by James | 15.10.09, 12:08 GMT