Trolling for snapper off Mornington last Wednesday, Mr Spathopoulos was surprised when a fish hit the line and promptly began towing his craft at about six kilometres an hour.

"I knew it wasn't a snapper in seconds and thought it might be a thresher shark because of its speed and power. About 20 minutes later it came leaping out of the water, twice landing only 20metres from the front of the kayak thankfully heading away from me which confirmed my first thought."

Unwilling to let the shark go but knowing he had hooked a problem, Mr Spathopoulos, of Mentone, phoned his mates at Fishing Fever in Mordialloc who relayed his message to charter boat owner Matthew Hunt who arrived about 30 minutes later.

"The battle lasted an hour and a half and I was towed several kilometres before the shark was close enough to the kayak for me to grab the tail and lift it enough for the boat to move in and help secure it."

It then took Mr Spathopoulos another hour to paddle back to Mothers Beach in Mornington with his 2.4-metre long prize.

"Sitting only inches from the waterline in a kayak and hooking a thresher of this size for the first time was an adrenaline-charged experience I won't soon forget.

"It really goes to show how capable these crafts are."

To find out more about kayak fishing, visit the Australian Kayak Fishing Forum website www.akff.net.au