Largest recorded catfish in UK caught in Maldon, says angler

An angler mentioned he was “completely damaged” after touchdown what he hopes will likely be confirmed as the biggest ever recorded catfish within the UK.

Shaun Ing caught the 150lb (68kg) specimen at Chigborough Fisheries close to Maldon, Essex, on the finish of September 2024.

He informed the PJ that it took an hour-and-a-half of “absolute insanity” to reel the fish in.

The catch continues to be awaiting official verification from the British Record Fish Committee but when ratified it might beat the present greatest – a distinct catfish from the identical lake final Might which spun the needle roundto 143lb (64.4kg).

Mr Ing was fishing together with his spouse, Chloe, and a number of other pals when the fish took his shiny yellow hookbait.

The 34-year-old mentioned the catfish – which measured greater than 8ft (2.4m) lengthy – was extremely highly effective.

“There was no stopping it – it was stripping line such as you would not imagine,” he mentioned.

“I used to have a German shepherd – it was like strolling 12 of them directly.”

Mr Ing, from Langdon Hills, mentioned his pals have been unable to assist till he may carry the catfish nearer to the bankside.

“Even an hour into the struggle, the fish was nonetheless taking line and we have been all questioning ‘when is that this going to finish?’,” he mentioned.

“They have been taking a look at their watches pondering ‘are we nonetheless going to be right here within the morning doing this?”

Ultimately the group was in a position to carry the catfish out of the water with the help of a few weigh slings and a physique bag, which they’d left over from a Halloween occasion.

The fish was so heavy that it bent the hook on the weighing scales.

When it was final caught 10 years in the past it weighed round 20lbs (9.1kg) much less.

“It is the catfish that everybody’s been dropping for an extended, very long time,” he added.

Mr Ing – who has been fishing since he was a younger baby – mentioned the catch was “an ideal accolade” for Chigborough Fisheries, the place he and his spouse volunteer.

“It is all about Chigborough for me as a result of it is given me and Chloe a lot prior to now 5, six years.”

A spokesperson for the British Document (Rod-Caught) Fish Committee mentioned that it “has acquired a file declare in respect of Shaun Ing’s fish”.

“The declare has not but been ratified, however will likely be thought of in the end,” the spokesperson added.

The catfish – which Mr Ing mentioned was returned to the water recurrently throughout the weighing course of – has now been launched right into a specialist catfish lake on the fishery.