CARPER Nick Royce had the battle of his life when he landed this lake record catfish estimated at over 130 lb.
Nick was on the £750-a-year Main Lake at Essex’s prolific Fryerning Fisheries when he hooked the giant just before dawn.
The builder and landscaper from London said: “I’d already had two smaller catfish from The Chocolate Finger swim when this one roared off at 4am.
“It was a solid hour of fighting before I could land the beast and all this happened while dawn was breaking.
“I’ve got to say it really is an impressive fish and is bigger than me. It was great getting in the water with it for the photographs.
“It fell to a Dynamite Baits Monster Tiger Nut boilie so this fish is obviously hovering up as much bait as possible as it’s not a fishy flavour,” added Nick.
Reaction of Fryerning boss
Fryerning fishery co-owner Charlie Knowles said: “The fish bottomed out the 120 lb scales he had but has been out at 124 lb in the past and we estimated at over 130 lb now.
“There is another catfish of similar size and you never know, they could grow on and go over the 140 even 150 lb mark as there’s a lot of bait going.
“And the carp are growing with five different 50-pounders and at least 17 over 40 lb,” added Charlie.
The Fryerning catfish ranks high on the list of wels catfish caught in the UK.
The unofficial British record catfish is widely reckoned to be a 145 lb giant that fell to Matthew Smith in January from Oak Lakes in Essex.
The same water produced a 144 lb cat in 2012 to James Jones that previously held the UK best.
Catfish were struck from the official British Record Fish Committee list in 2007 due to a wave of illegal imports in the 1990s and early 2000s.
A bid to overturn the ban last year by Devon’s Zyg Gregorek of Anglers Paradise was turned down.
GOT A STORY, OR VIEWS OR GREAT PHOTOS? You could appear in print and online with us! Email pix with info to: anglersmail@ti-media.com
For the best exclusive content, read Angler’s Mail magazine this week. The print issue of Angler’s Mail is in shops priced £2.20. Get your copy asap.
SUBSCRIBE TO ANGLER’S MAIL TODAY!
Get Angler’s Mail (print or digital version) to you every week at a great price 
SUBSCRIBE & SAVE HERE!
Subs deals mean you can get every AM magazine issue, delivered to you, from just £1.30 a week!
An ‘AM sub’ also makes a great gift for you, or for any angler..
You may also like to read these Angler’s Mail stories…
Targeting big catfish
Why? Because I’m enjoying hooking into something like the 52-pounder above, the second ’50’ I’ve had in the last couple…
Best catfish picture ever?
TWO English anglers have shared a massive haul of Spanish catfish, landing 75 in a fortnight, of which 51 were…
‘Carp god’ brings 50-pounder straight away
Fryerning Fisheries in Essex had the ‘carp god’ created and Bertie put in some hard graft to get the statue…
Amazing trio of different carp from top venue Fryerning
Fishing Essex’s prolific Fryerning Fisheries, local Aaron nabbed a PB common of 51 lb 15 oz before matting a stunning…
Andy Little targets big UK catfish at in-form day ticket fishery
When I went to Wintons Fishery in 2015 it was just over a year ago when sadly my good friend,…
Big carp slams scales down to 55 lb 4 oz for veteran
Big carp mecca, Essex’s Fryerning Fisheries, was the scene for his mega catch, known as ‘Gurm’, at a PB weight…
Catfish – now a native species in the UK?
And the Angling Trust, angling’s governing body, have called for the Government to carry out a comprehensive scientific study to…