We needed a bigger boat.
This was it...

Some RAF chaps (including yours truly) were detached to Royal Navy assault carrier HMS Intrepid for the journey from Aden to Sharjah in the Persian Gulf. The ship was loaded up but was not due to sail until the following day. While on deck "guarding" our choppers I noticed some off duty matelots sitting near the back of the ship with lines in their hands (no rods). The "lines", fairly thin rope,with a steel trace and a very large hook. Their bait was scrounged from leftover meat in the kitchen.
To be honest, with such crude tackle, I wasn't expecting much. Hours went by and nothing happened when suddenly one of the sailors felt something pulling. His mates let go of their lines, which were all tied to the rail. They all joined in and helped him pull on the rope.
Now came the surprise. Someone on the bridge must have seen the struggle and lowered the motorised boom at the back of the ship. The fish was pulled into the landing craft bay, which was empty of craft and the boom was then raised. For the first time we were able to see the fish. It was a medium sized shark, not a man eater by any means but scary enough for me to avoid.
The next bit made my day. The fishermen pulled knives from their belts , put them between their teeth and dived into the bay, pirate style. They all returned with various bits of shark, some of which was cooked for them by the Chinese kitchen staff, the other bits were used for bait. Later in the mess they told me this was a regular occurrence.
HMS Intrepid was scrapped some years ago, as was I.
( edjogs Collared doves are shit., Mon 5 Nov 2012, 18:11, Reply)