TV star Dean Macey caught huge chub and barbel... in no small part due to being caught by a speed camera.

Dean Macey was caught doing 57 miles per hour in a 50 zone in Dorset and was forced to return to do a speed awareness course.

So instead of booking a hotel decided on a night on the Royalty Fishery and matted a 13 lb 6 oz  (above) barbel and chub of 6 lb 5 oz (below) and 5 lb 15 oz.

The 39-year-old explained: “Hand on heart, I actually thought it was a 60 MPH zone… honest officer! Anyway, it turns out that Dorset is the only county in the country where if you get given the option of a speed awareness course it has to be done in Dorset.

“It really was a no brainer so I booked a night fishing the Royalty for £35.

“Not having been on the stretch for 11 years I arrived a few hours before dark to walk the stretch to get a feel for the swims and spots that I fancied. I decided to work right through the night and make the most of the time I had.”

Dean Macey continued: “I noticed some really spooky big chub sat just a few feet from the bank so I drip fed a few Hinders Elips Pellets over the spot for about an hour to gain their confidence.

“Just as the light finally faded I went in with a trimmed down Mainline Hybrid Hooker hair-rigged tight to my hook.

“First put in I missed a very snatchy bite but on my second cast I gave the sneaky buggers a little more rope to hang themselves and one of 6 lb 5 oz did just that.

“The next two swims proved fruitless so at around 3am I was on the move once again to a new area. And lost a big fish but then 20 minutes later had a 5 lb 15 oz chub that helped with my sorry and tired mood.

“Thinking that would be it from the swim I lowered the bait out again with the mindset of actually shutting my eyes for the night. I was on my way to sleepy land when the rod shot into life and the reel started churning with my hand still resting on it.

“The fight was brutal in the flow and every time I tried to dip the net in the river she just refused to come any closer, but finally she gave in.

“At 13 lb 6 oz she was not only a new venue best for me but in her summer colours she has to be one of the best looking barbel to ever grace my net,” added Dean Macey.

CAUGHT A BIG FISH OR GOT SOME NEWS OR VIEWS? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the weekly Angler’s Mail magazine.

MYSTERY surrounds a huge silver fish taken from a day ticket lake that came within an ounce of the UK rudd record of 4 lb 10 oz.

Big Wayne Miller (pictured above) was convinced his 4 lb 9 oz giant was a true rudd from day ticket Coston Lakes in Norwich, Norfolk.

But pictures can’t prove conclusively what exactly the fish is as ray counts can’t be taken of the fins but a top expert believes it is a rudd-roach hybrid.

Fish ID expert Dr Mark Everard said: “It is difficult to be sure from the photos as the fins are not on display and the resolution not good, but from some of the features I would say there is a good chance it is a hybrid.

“The head-first shot confirms that the fish is quite narrow on the shoulder and body, and whilst the fish appears to have the keel that many rudd do, the mouth looks intermediate roach-rudd.

“If pushed to a personal, not a scientific, opinion, I’d say this looks like a roach-rudd hybrid, although a pretty one and a nice fish.”

Disappointment for ‘rudd’ captor

Wayne, a 35-year-old gas and oil worker from Gorlston, said: “It is disappointing to learn that it might not be a true rudd, but its still a fine specimen and I’ve never caught a silver fish anywhere near that size before.

“I’m a regular at the fishery and if I caught it again I would take a scale for a DNA sample.

“I’m just delighted to have caught such a great specimen, so the record is immaterial.

“I’m mainly a carp fisherman but I love catching silver fish too, so where a water allows three rods, I tend to fish two for carp and one targeting other species.

“I was fishing about 60 yards out 25 yards to my right and I catapulted out a small amount of hemp with a bit of scorn, and then quivertipped a very shaved down Sticky Baits Manilla boilie hair-rigged to a size 12 hook.

“I had been catching some nice rudd between 1 lb and 2 lb 4 oz and a few roach in the 1 lb class and was just thinking of packing up as it was dark when the big fish struck.

“The bailiff who has been around a number of years had never seen anything like it, believing the largest rudd in the water were no more than 3 lb.

“I would have been happy with that catch alone but the next day I landed a lovely PB ghost carp of 24 lb on the same rod using the same method,” he concluded.

The DNA-tested claim for the British Record Fish Committee remains open for rudd now at 3 lb 12 oz, having originally been set at 4 lb 3 oz or above, but still no claims have been received for the official list.

If an angler catches a potential hybrid fish like roach, rudd or crucian they should carefully collect a scale and put it in an empty wet hook packet before sending to the BRFC.

CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the weekly Angler’s Mail magazine.

A CHALLENGE to the Environment Agency that the new electronic lure eMinnow is illegal has gone out from former pike record holder Neville Fickling.

The Cannadian-made battery operated lure mimics the action of a fish and could be used in place of a livebait, but as revealed in a recent issue, was declared to be illegal by the EA.

But Neville Fickling, who held the pike record back in February 1985 with a fish of 41 lb 6 oz from Norfolk’s River Thurne, thinks the EA couldn’t prosecute.

Neville, who owns Lincolnshire’s The Tackle Shop, said: “I was surprised at the quoted response regarding electric lures from an EA spokesman in page 5 of the June 20 issue.

“While the use of lights and unlicensed electro fishing equipment is obviously a no no in our attempts to catch fish, much of the legislation in the Salmon and Freshwaters Fish Act was designed to protect salmon.”

Neville Fickling continued: “I hardly think that an electric livebait falls into the category of a prohibited instrument and I don’t think livebaiting has ever been a recommended method for salmon.

“If you take the EA viewpoint to its ultimate conclusion then surely electric bite alarms and bait boats should be prohibited?

“While I’m not suggesting deliberately flouting the law, I would suggest that anyone who wants to use an eMinnow challenges the EA about this,”  concluded Neville Fickling.

Despite the Angler’s Mail asking the EA to totally clarify the legal position of this lure as well as electronic devices like bait boats and bite alarms, the EA again came back with a vague response.

A statement said: “Current legislation states ‘no person shall use in or near any waters…. any electrical device, with intent thereby to take or destroy fish.’ This applies to all species of fish covered by the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975 (as amended).”

CAUGHT A BIG FISH OR NEWS OR VIEWS TO SHARE? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the Angler’s Mail print magazine.

MATT VELAMAIL and a friend found a deep hole on a stretch of river and targeted it for success with this 15 lb barbel (below).

The 26-year-old from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, searched for likely underwater hotspots on  the River Trent using an award-winning Deeper fish finder.

He then prebaited for two weeks and the effort paid off when the big barbel fell to  a 20 mm Redemption boilie from Three Foot Twitch.

Matt said: “I headed down to the river straight from work for an overnight session.

“Not long before the light started disappearing I had three bleeps on my alarm as the bobbin rose and then nothing.

“I struck it as I hadn’t had another bleep and after pulling through a bit of streamer weed I felt it thudding.

“A fairly short battle ensued and I had the barbel in the net.”

CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the magazine and win great prizes.

ANGLER'S MAIL magazine this week brings you exclusives... and at just £1.99 for the print issue, you cannot afford to miss it!

Our brilliant magazine brings you full  print stories on a shock huge ide in Britain; the death of the UK’s heaviest carp and a brain scare for an England match ace.

To help you, ace instruction includes tactics to follow for your summer evening sessions…with a stunning evening picture from Carl & Alex on the front cover.

And you’ll want read the latest exclusive Angler’s Mail feature with Chris Yates – this time revealing his traditional tactics for tench.

Also inside your Angler’s Mail magazine this week:

• A true angling survivor
• Strange catfish are on the loose
• Steve Collett enjoys a very different sort of canal fun
• How fish find food, with Dr Ian Welch
  
• John Bailey makes bites unmissable on the lead
• Exclusive columns by Darren Cox, Dave Coster, Andy Browne, Jamie Londors, Colin Davidson and more!

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JAMES BUTLER connected with this lure-caught 7 lb 9 oz giant after he put in some graft clearing a swim.

The 31-year-old from Edgware, North London struck into the impressive chub on the River Thames. It beat his personal best by the narrow margin of 1 oz.

James told Angler’s Mail: “I recently come across a neglected stretch of river so on my next trip I came prepared with some gardening shears.

“After a few hours in blistering heat I had cut out a few swims which were overgrown with stinging nettles and brambles.

“I left it for that session after causing quite a bit of commotion. I made a plan to lure fish during the day because of the boats and play the bait and wait at night when I returned the following week.”

A lure like this tempted the giant chub.

James continued: “When I returned I saw some chub rising for insects so I put on a frog lure on my light lure rod with 20 lb braid to a 25 lb trace.

“I had a couple of takes but I couldn’t hook up so I switched to a Savage Gear Soft 4Play which I kept just under the surface.

“I had two missed takes on that too so I slowed it down a touch on the next cast…  I saw a big bow wave come in and the fish nailed it. I was, and still am, over the moon,” he added.

CAUGHT A BIG FISH OR GOT SOME NEWS OR VIEWS TO SHARE? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could appear in the Angler’s Mail print magazine.

SOUTH WEST WATER is the only one of nine utility firms to be criticised by the Environment Agency.

In an Environment Agency report on 2016 in England, just the one bloated privatised firm got a telling off. That was despite the number of pollutions going up by 160 to 1,902 and a rise in the most serious category one disasters from four to nine.

River campaigner and former barbel record holder Ray Walton said: “I’ve read the full report and the EA seem to write off nearly 2,000 pollutions by the nine firms.

“There also still far too much abstraction of our rivers which damages fish stocks and this report glosses over this.”

Barbel ace Ray Walton was highly critical of water pollution by water companies.

South West Water committed 115 pollutions, nearly triple the amount of Yorkshire Water who were next on 46.

One bit of good news was water firms were being hit far harder in the wallet as courts brought in new European Union legislation on tougher fines. 2016 saw £6,560,00 dished out for ten prosecutions compared with £2,494,500 for nine court appearances in 2015.

Only recently Thames Water got a record £20.3 million for serious sewage pollution of the River Thames and tributaries around Abingdon.

An Environment Agency spokesperson said: “Over the last 20 years, we have made big steps to improve the quality of our water. This is thanks to the hard work of the EA, DEFRA, water companies, councils, local communities, farmers and environmental organisations.

“We will highlight best practice and innovation but also take action to address any poor practice.

“We expect South West Water to make significant improvements to their environmental performance.”

Dr Toby Willison, executive director for the Environment Agency, added: “While we welcome the good progress being made we will continue to address any failings and will take enforcement action in the most serious cases,” he added.

OVER-ZEALOUS law enforcement officers have fined two teenagers for using sweetcorn.

A free fishing trip to a local river turned out to be very expensive for two teenagers after they were given an £80 fixed penalty litter notice for throwing sweetcorn into the river.

The boys had gone to the River Medway in the centre of Maidstone in Kent when they were approached by environment enforcement officers employed by Kingdom Security which has the litter enforcement contract with the local council.

Andy Goodman, from the charity Carp After Combat, who is a neighbour of one of the boy’s grandfather, told Angler’s Mail: “The boys were just enjoying their fishing and throwing in sweetcorn as loose feed when they were approached by the officers who tried to issue them with fixed penalty notices.

“They refused to actually take them and the Police were called who then insisted the boys accepted the notices and also gave them a rap on the knuckles for wasting Police time!”

The River Medway in Maidstone.

Andy continued: “The fine is quite ridiculous and hundreds of thousands of anglers could be at risk of something similar if they were using any form of groundbait in an enforcement area.

“I would have thought the officers could have used a little more common sense and if there was any sweetcorn left lying on the ground they could have asked the boys to pick it up,” Andy told Angler’s Mail.

This isn’t the first time the firm have been involved in controversy as last September a local woman was fined for leaving bread for ducks.

At the time the contract manager from Maidstone Council suspended the contract for a fortnight while he reviewed the service and withdrew the fine.

Kingdom Security has a two-year agreement worth £160,000 with the authority which also sees the company getting 50 per cent of every fine issued.

Over a year from September 2015, the company issued 2,116 tickets, 61 of which have been cancelled. It also has contracts with several local other local authorities, including Ashford and Gravesham.

At the time of this story being written by Angler’s Mail no comment was available from the council on the matter.

PAUL ALLEN smashed his personal best chub with this 8 lb 2 oz giant – and he thinks it can get much bigger.

The aircraft engineer legered boilie on his local Hampshire Avon to beat his old  best by 2 oz.

Verwood, Dorset-based Paul explained: “I had spotted a shoal of decent chub and baited the swim.

“The fish were soon feeding very confidently over the spot and I missed a take first cast.

“Re-casting, I had another take ten minutes later and landed the fish without too any problems.

“I didn’t realise the size of the chub until I lifted the landing net out onto the unhooking mat.

“The fish was far bigger than I expected. It was certainly a shock to see the pointer on the scales pass the 8 lb mark.

“And it was in excellent condition, very wide across its back and very deep – the photo does not do justice to a real chunk of a chub.

“What is remarkable is that the chub looked a young fish and was certainly not an old warrior,” he added.

ANGLING got a boost against cormorants when funding for two key specialists was guaranteed for a further two years.

The Environment Agency have given approval to use rod licence income to safeguard the workers at the Angling Trust.

Since being appointed three years ago, the Fisheries Management Advisers have helped hundreds of venue managers on rivers and lakes, not only with licence applications but with practical advice to protect fish using innovative techniques like lasers and lifelike mannequins.

While their work will be very much focused on the issues around fish-eating birds, the FMAs are also able to advise those fishery managers encountering other predation problems such as otters.

Jake Davoile seen with a 43 lb mirror carp stalked from an Oxfordshire stillwater.

Jake Davoile, FMA for the south of England, said: “We advise fisheries on how they can manage the menace from cormorants in particular both by non-lethal methods and actual culling, and help groups come together to apply for an area licence.

“The Hampshire Avon is a good example where 36 organisations have combined together to hold a licence which covers about 85 per cent of the river.

“There is a limit to the number of birds that can be actually culled and there are some problems remaining but the situation is much improved from the past and fishing is prospering along the river.

“To put things into perspective though there are now estimated to be 37,000 cormorants here in winter and a maximum of 3,000 are allowed to be culled in England each year.

“We also advise on otter fencing and the removal of otters from fenced waters although the funding for this comes from a different grant.”

Richard Bamforth had this 6 lb trout from a northern stillwater.

Richard Bamforth, who covers the north, added: “This isn’t a Monday to Friday 9 to 5 job. We are available 24/7 and spend an average of three days a week on site visits and two days doing the various necessary reports.

“Natural England issues the licences and decide how many birds can be actually killed in each location depending on the size of the problem and other factors,” he concluded.

Over the three years to February 2017 the two FMAs attended 35 regional freshwater forums, 160 fishery group meetings and 352 site visits, and established and support 16 area-based licences across England. In addition, the FMAs offer technical advice via telephone and email exchanges across England, Wales and southern Scotland.

ANGLER'S MAIL magazine this week brings you exclusive news stories, latest tips and hotspots... and at just £1.99 for the print issue, you cannot afford to miss it!

Exclusive AM columnist Dr Ian Welch teaches you how to use moon phases & air pressure to succeed – it’s essential advice you probably won’t have read anywhere before.

And you’ll want read the latest exclusive Angler’s Mail feature with the enigmatic Chris Yates – this time revealing his surface secrets with carp.

Also inside your Angler’s Mail magazine this week:

• British record shark shocker
• Pike mecca that’s set to be ‘the new Chew’
• Tiny woman catches giant cat
• Shop shares CCTV to close net on crooks
• Steve Collett fishes with Poles
• Lee Kerry on the 2017 World Club Champs
  

Best advice is in Angler’s Mail print magazine:

• Andy Browne’s great paste guide
• Dave Coster’s emergency kit
• Catch More big bream on pole with Vic Bush
• Colin Davidson on how to tie a quick-change PVA bag rig

PLUS the best Where To Fish guide… it’s by AM’s genuine regional experts!

DON’T MISS  THIS ISSUE OF AM PRINT MAG!

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BIG RIG, the UK’s largest and most controversial carp, has been found dead at the Shopshire lake where it shot to fame.

Big Rig, the huge hand-reared carp at RH Fisheries’ The Avenue syndicate, was caught at 69 lb 3 oz by Tom Doherty in September, 2016.

The British Record Fish Committee rejected his claim as they decided the fish had been artificially reared to near to record weight.

Big Rig was subsequently caught in October at just over 2 lb heavier by Robby Harrison at an astonishing 71 lb 4 oz (pictured).

Rob Hales, owner of RH Fisheries, explained: “I’ve had so many enquiries from newspapers and magazines that anyone might think it was the Queen who had died not just a big fish.

“We are fairly sure he death was spawning related as her vent had recently emptied, although you can never be sure with older carp – she must have been at least 15.

“We close the lake for ten weeks from the end of May to let the fish spawn in peace and reduce general angling pressure, and don’t re-open till July 28.

“I got a call last week from my son to say a large fish had died, and when I came down I sadly recognised her as Big Rig. We didn’t weigh her or take any photos.

“Fortunately she was the only fish to perish and the Avenue still has a 60 lb common, five 50s and over 30 40-pounders.

“I will be discussing fish stocks with the Avenue’s syndicate but we are likely to remove a significant number of 30s to allow the others to grow on more.

“I am also considering taking out one of the bigger carp next summer to collect the spawn.

“We have 5,000 one-year-old carp from Big Rig spawning last year and we have identified the biggest 500 to grow on especially to be sold as three-year-old fish in the summer of 2019.

“I have never seen such big one-year-old carp in my life,” he concluded.

Big Rig divided the carp fishing community with some anglers regarding the whole thing as close to an abomination, and with the captor himself even receiving death threats.

The official carp record was set by The Parrot at 68 lb 1 oz by Dean Fletcher in January 2016 from Berkshire’s Wasing Estate. That fish too is now dead.

CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in Angler’s Mail print magazine.

BRITAIN'S biggest ever ‘natural’ ide has been caught and it is pushing the official British record, listed under its other name - orfe.

Nottinghamshire’s River Trent is full of surprises but a 7 lb 6 oz ide was the last thing Ian Green was expecting during a recent night trip.

Ide are the natural version of the ornamental golden orfe and that same species has an official British record of 8 lb 5 oz . The  golden version was caught from Lymm Vale in Cheshire by Michael Wilkinson in 2000.

Ian, who is 29-year-old and from Nottingham, explained: “I was convinced I had caught a large chub until I was told by others it was an ide, and it is the first one I’ve ever caught.

“It was my only fish of the night and was tempted by a 16 mm Three Foot Twitch Redemption boilie fished with a PVA big filled with 14, 16 and 18 mm versions with a few freebies over the top.

“Who know what the Trent holds? I believe there could be even bigger ones in there,”  added Ian.

Local tackle dealer Tim Aplin commented: “This fish doesn’t really surprise me – ide seem to be coming out at the moment.

“A three-pounder was caught in an evening match at Clifton and youngsters there showed pictures on their camera of one they caught that looked about 6 lb.

“All kinds of species are turning up in the Trent like sturgeon and catfish, so who knows what’s next?

“The river has been fishing really well despite low and clear conditions from the start of the season,” he added.

CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could appear in the brilliant weekly print magazine.

BILLY BARTHOLOMEW made a late decision to do a night session and ended up with this venue record 117 lb 11 oz catfish.

The huge catfish came from Forty Acres Plantation Lake in Billericay in Essex where local 25-year-old Billy used a boilie, aiming for carp.

Billy said: “After an eventful start for the first few hours of banking four carp off a marginal area just next to the reeds it looked like it was going to be a busy night.

“However, it seemed to die down as the sun started to descend behind the trees.

“Going into the night, I decided to stick one rod on an adjustable zig around 4.5 wraps out to my right which was set to just two foot under the surface, with fish crashing about around that area I thought it was a pretty safe bet.

“Around 2.30 am it screamed off in a typical one toner fashion. Hooking into it, I could tell that it was a big fish as it made a serious uncontrollable run.

“Two and a half solid hours later I managed to finally get the fish in the net. It wasn’t until I picked it up slightly that I see a huge head, body and long thick tail to match.

“At the time, I was shaking as my previous catfish PB was 37 lb and this was clearly miles over that. I’d never seen anything like it before and knowing this was sitting in my net was surreal.

“This will be a once in a lifetime fish that I will struggle to beat for a very long time for sure. Safe to say, I will not be forgetting that spontaneous session any time soon,”  added Billy, who used a UK Bait Company yellow Pro Nut pop-up boilie.

CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could star in the essential Angler’s Mail weekly print magazine.

A CANCER survivor who defied the odds by winning a memorial match set up ten years ago when he was thought to be dying, has just fished the TENTH anniversary event. And he just been given the all-clear.

Plucky Sam Howson (pictured above) was operated on a decade ago for stomach cancer and given little chance of survival. He credits his love of fishing with helping him through this and many other ailments.

The 75-year-old former bricklayer, van driver and cabbie explained: “I have actually had a lot of medical problems over the years starting with a stroke 25 years ago, a triple heart by-pass seven years later, then the stomach cancer. And four years ago I fractured my spine.

“We all thought I was dying from the cancer so my lads decided that they would arrange a fishing match in my memory and actually went out and bought the trophy for it.

“When I didn’t die as quickly as expected they decided to go ahead and hold the match anyway and I actually won the thing.

“I bet not many people have actually taken part in their own memorial, never mind winning the event.”

Keen fisher in crew called ‘The Old Farts’

“We decided to carry on holding it each year and finally after ten years the hospital has discharged me as cancer free.

“I’ve been coming to Whitmore since it first opened nearly 20 years ago, and love fishing there.

“I try to make light of my ailments but its the fishing that keeps me going,” he added.

Battler Sam’s still fishing a lot – and catching plenty too.

Ricky Moore, owner of Lancashire’s Whitmore Fisheries, near Preston, said: “Sam is as keen as mustard on his fishing and he comes here two or three times a week in summer with a group of other old boys who are collectively known as ‘The Old Farts’.

“Sam loves telling jokes and has a very jovial, positive outlook on life.

“He has a caravan at Great Eccleston a few miles from the fishery and the group come down as regular as clockwork while he is staying there every summer.

“He doesn’t fish in winter as he feels the cold, but he still calls in now and again for a cup of tea and a chat when he pops down to check on the caravan,” he concluded.

GOT A NEWS STORY, VIEWS TO SHARE OR CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could appear in the briliant Angler’s Mail weekly print magazine.

A SPECIES of dangerous, stinging walking catfish have been discovered in a Lancashire river and anglers are being warned not to touch them.

Eight clarias catfish, also known as walking catfish, were recovered from the River Tonge by the Environment Agency.

The shock find came after a woman was stung by one when she was fishing near Radcliffe Road in Darcy Lever near Bolton.

They have spines that can penetrate the skin and they can also ‘walk’ using their pectoral fins.

The African species can also breathe air through their mouths and not via their gills.

They use their front pectoral fins to move between different bodies of water on land, in almost a walking fashion and can survive out of water for upwards of 30 minutes.

Angler stung on finger by alien catfish

Gaynor Greene, aged 33, was fishing on Thursday when she encountered a large number of the fish and when she touched it was caught by one of its spines.

She said that it was only a light sting but did leave a tingling sensation and that it would definitely hurt a child.

Gaynor said: “My stepson said he had seen a catfish on the river on Tuesday.

“When we were there they stung me on the finger. It was quite a shock getting stung by a fish. I had never seen anything like it, I had no idea where they had come from.”

While fishing with maggots, Gaynor noticed the catfish were not taking the bait and found it unusual.

These catfish were removed from the river by the EA.

An EA spokeswoman said: “Our officer went on site to collect them and we don’t believe there are any more plus they wouldn’t survive in this climate for long. But if anyone sees an alien fish species they should call us on 0800 80 70 60.”

Local Angler’s Mail contributor Ian Chapman said: “I’ve not fished the river, it is just a stream really. It is shocking these fish have got in there.”

GOT SOME NEWS, VIEWS OR CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could appear in the brilliant weekly Angler’s Mail magazine.

THE RidgeMonkey carp tackle firm has taken on two more top anglers as it continues to expand with its exciting product ranges.

RidgeMonkey recently announced that experienced tackle developer Max Cottis has joined its fold.

And now highly respected anglers Peter Carr and Les Marsh have joined the RidgeMonkey stable as sponsored Pro anglers.

A specialist carper with a wealth of experience both home and abroad, Peter (pictured above) has caught a mind-blowing amount of huge carp. Angler’s Mail was amazed to hear the full track record for Peter…

At the last count, Peter’s current tally stood at over 600 (yes, you read that right –  SIX HUNDRED!) 40 lb-plus specimens from three different countries to a personal best in excess of 77 lb.

Les has been consistently catching big carp from a variety of venues around the England for over four decades and was  the first person to catch a 50 lb-plus carp in Yorkshire.

Les can also boast captures of Benson and The Creature from Bluebell at 58 lb-plus, Deepings’ Blackspot at a personal best and Lincolnshire record of 60 lb 5 oz… and a host of other big fish from various counties around the UK.

Les Marsh, pictured with noted carp Benson.

Peter said: “Like many anglers, since the launch of RidgeMonkey I’ve always been just as eager to scramble to the tackle shop to see for myself what the next ‘must-have’ product is like and my bivvy is already filled with many essential quality items such as the Vault, Bivvy Lite and the Advanced Boilie Crusher, amongst others!

“For me, the brand is more than ‘just products designed by carp anglers for carp anglers’, it’s also about the innovation, the passion and commitment which is reflected in every product conceived.

“To be able to help develop and push the brand further, whilst having the opportunity to input my own ideas with particular focus on some of the specialist equipment is an absolute honour and I am truly excited and looking forward to working closely with the rest of the team at RidgeMonkey.”

Les added: “I’m really looking forward to joining the team at RidgeMonkey – they already have a very good range of products for the carp angler and I’ll hopefully be able to add some of my own ideas along the way”

A RidgeMonkey spokesman said: “Peter and Les will be a big asset to the brand as we expand our range in the future, with their experience and knowledge of the equipment required by the big carp angler making both an integral part of the team.”

GOT A NEWS STORY, VIEWS TO SHARE OR CAUGHT A BIG FISH? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com – you could appear in the brilliant Angler’s Mail weekly print magazine.

ANGLER'S MAIL magazine this week brings you exclusives... and at just £1.99 for the print issue, you cannot afford to miss it!

Read our NEW SERIES  ‘The Art of Angling’ by ace artist and specialist angler Chris Turnbull. It’s his stunning artwork of a leaping carp on the front cover… a real collector’s edition!

The British record carp, The Parrot, has sadly died. Read our tribute including an exclusive eye witness account from the angler who found this epic fish.

Steve Collett, the unique Angler’s Mail columnist, tells you how to fish for bites – NOT bragging rights!

The BIG venues guide in Angler’s Mail magazine is essential reading too. It’s by genuine regional experts.

Also inside your Angler’s Mail magazine this week:

• England club are crowned World’s best
• Giant barbel after rain – and other big catches
• Darren Cox proves practice pays off
  
• Jamie Londors’ double carp success
• Colin Davidson on carp reel line clips
• Correct fish handling with Dr Ian Welch
• Big carp on pellet wag with Tony Ashbolt

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HUGELY popular all-round angler Jan Porter, who died last year, is to be remembered with a charity memorial event which is harnessing social media, and you can participate in it.

The special event in memory of Jan Porter is running through the Facebook page called redorrealtree.

Some of the very best anglers are involved in this event which aims to pull angling together, and also donate to the Aylesford hospice and to Cancer Research UK.

Jan Porter died in April 2016 after battling cancer for the previous few years …. but it was still a huge shock the ‘man in red’ passed away.

The 60-year-old became famous for his red attire in the 1970s and 80s while fishing matches, especially on his local River Trent in Nottingham. Jan also represented Norway in the World Championships and rebuilt the Shakespeare Superteam.

In the 1990s Jan turned into the ‘man in camo’ as a specimen hunter and became Shimano chief consultant and showed what a versatile angler he was. His enthusiasm, knowledge and passion for fishing came through his media and TV work.

Jan Porter made his name as a crimson-clad matchman, but broadened his range of angling interests and was a figurehead in a renewed rise of camou, especially Realtree.

Memorial event co-organiser Andy Lewis said: “The main weekend of event will be 11th-13th of August, when we will end the auctions and also share the pictures of people fishing around the country in either red or Realtree.

“The social media link through Instagram and Facebook will be trending as #redorrealtree.

“There are many guiding days being included in the event by the country’s top anglers, from specimen, carp, lure and match.

“There will be continued posts of winners fishing so it hopefully will self-populate and reach many people.

“A reminder that the way in which people can donate/participate will be through a JustGiving page. A £5 donation will enter them into the draw for various prizes.

“There will also be a silent auction running for some of the larger prizes, as we feel this will generate the most money to give to both charities involved.

“We will also be asking Jan’s family to pick some of the pictures posted on the social media sites from the weekend wearing red or Realtree to award some prizes.

“We hope this memorial event will not only celebrate one of angling’s most loved legends, but also generate both lots of money for the charities and good publicity for angling as a whole.

“With the prizes promised it is sure to be a great tribute to Jan,” added Andy, who is running the Facebook page redorrealtree where you can find out more information.

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THE national media have been in a summer feeding frenzy after British rod-caught blue shark record was smashed by an astonishing 42 lb with this 256 lb beast.

The huge blue shark was part of a 77 shark haul from Robin ‘Chippy’ Chapman’s Penzance, Cornwall, charter boat Bite Adventures.

Angler’s Mail was first with the news, with straight-up reporting…

Skipper Chippy, whose boat is backed by tackle brand Fin-Nor, said: “I had a regular party down for a few days fishing for sharks as they do every year. They are a competent group of anglers who always do well.

“On Saturday, they had a great day, catching 44 sharks, with a good head of big fish. We had a huge male blue, of 129 lb, and a good female at 144 lb.

“The following day they were straight back out early – John Dines was set in his mind that he wanted a ‘big ‘un’ and kept to the same method as the day before.”

Blue shark went off like a steam train!

Chippy continued: “The third fish that day fell to the trap John set. As soon as he hooked up we knew it was big. It went off like an absolute steam train!

“After 40 minutes of hard battling with this giant, we finally got the first sighting.

“We saw the fish from the bow as it circled the boat once before going off on another surging run straight back to the ocean’s depths.

“I told John to remember what he saw because if he lost it nobody would believe him!

“The fish repeated this five or six times but luckily the 400 lb 49-strand wire and 10/0 hook held fast.”

“When the fish was finally beaten and ready to come aboard, there were cheers from around the boat. What a fish!” Chippy exclaimed.

Tabloid coverage… and record ratification

The blue was measured as a new British record at 256 lb but it was so big the skipper reckons it was likely to be nearer 300 lb.

The giant obliterated the previous record of 214 lb, set way back in 1959.

It was measured and photographed then released back unharmed.

Captor John Dines was expected to claim the catch and release record for blue shark from the Shark Angling Club of Great Britain.

Upon hearing the news, secretary John McMaster told Angler’s Mail: “We are expecting a claim in the next few week’s which involves a statement, photos and I understand in this case video.

“Our next committee meeting which will consider the claim is due at the end of August after which the information will be released.

“If it is confirmed as genuine it is certainly a fantastic fish,” he added.

Meanwhile, as word spread – and record ratification hung in the balance – the skipper and co were deluged with interest from the non-angling media, many getting a bit carried away during the ‘summer silly season’.

Some coverage clearly overstepped the mark, and included  this ‘killer shark’ front cover (below) by the Daily Mirror.

Several reports in the non-angling press appeared to express concern that the fish was returned…

But a happy ending was soon announced, as Chippy revealed good news…

Chippy said via his Facebook page: “Yesterday we found out that John Dines now holds the catch and release British record for his blue shark. Massive congratulations bud.

“Also a massive thanks to the Shark Club of Great Britain for moving with the times and getting it recognised that catch and release is the way forward in protecting our fishery for many generations to come.

“Well done guys, not just from me but all the guys who fish on Bite Adventures and all the charter fleet across great Britain.”

CAUGHT A BIG FISH or got some news or views to share? Email photos and details exclusively to: anglersmail@timeinc.com You can trust Angler’s Mail to deliver the best coverage in print and online – written by anglers, for anglers, every week.