CHRIS BARCZAK couldn’t fish for three years but made amends on his return with this PB 16 lb 5 oz barbel from Nottinghamshire’s River Trent.
The Angling Trust voluntary bailiff beat his old best of 13 lb 2 oz with the stunning specimen that fell to his legered meat approach.
Security officer Chris, 32, from Kilnhurst, South Yorkshire, said: “After a 14-hour night shift, me and my missus decided to go fishing for a night.
“I had three hours sleep then packed up my tackle in the car.
“Most of the stretches were already full by other anglers so we decided to find a new place that we’d never fished before.
“I cast into the main flow and about 40 minutes later I had my first bite.
“It looked like a bream when I started playing it but after few seconds the rod bent right over.
“After a long battle, I landed my new PB,” he added.
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