Mark Heffernan, Chairman of Dundalk SAC had a day to remember on Carlingford Lough when he boated a massive tope estimated at 67lb 8oz – over the Irish record.

Fishing aboard the appropriately named ‘Tope Legend’, a boat owned by Brian Gallagher, the day began well with a tope estimated at 42.5lb, which is over the Irish specimen weight of 40lb.Next came a tope of 38lb, a good fish by any standards but the pair kept the best till last as the final tope of the day was the biggest of the lot.Brian is a contributor to IFI’s Marine Sportfish Tagging programme and has tagged 16 tope for the programme to date in 2012.With a fork length of 60 inches and a girth of 30 inches, Mark’s massive fish was estimated at 67.5lb. which would put it above the current Irish record of 66lb 8oz.