Every now and then, fishing rewards our efforts with a dream session we’ll never forget. Whether it’s banking a target fish you've been chasing, winning a big match, or landing a completely unexpected catch, the possibilities are endless when it comes to what defines a red-letter session. These moments don’t come around often, so when they do, you have to make the most of them.
Zenia Drury-Gregorek is not only the hostess of one of the most well-known fishing venues in the country, Anglers Paradise, but also a superb angler, as her latest session clearly proves. During a memorable 24-hour stint, Zenia kicked things off with a 30lb grass carp, before going on to break the venue common carp record with a colossal 44lb fish. As if that wasn’t enough, she followed it up with a PB 45lb mirror, along with several others in what can only be described as a dream session.
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"Those of you that know me, will know that even though I live at Anglers Paradise, I don't actually get much time to go fishing because of my role at AP," Zenia explained.
"I literally live, eat and breathe AP, and that is my life, but I love seeing so many different walks of life here, seeing day to day, anglers catching PB's, people making memories and of course kids and adults catching their first fish and gaining a passion for fishing from what we do...I love it! It means the world to me," she added.
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During the peak season, which coincides with the best fishing on the complex, Zenia rarely gets much time to fish herself. When she does, it’s often just for a few hours, so she typically makes the most of it by stalking carp or targeting them off the surface. However, for her 40th birthday, Zenia's husband Joe decided to organise some time off to fish a full session together on the newly restored Nirvana Lake, to see if the resident carp were in a feeding mood.
"I was really looking forward to spending some quality time together doing what we love, fishing!" she said.
"The first day was extremely windy and very challenging, especially using the baiting pole! After several attempts to get the rigs and bait into place, we finally had the traps set and then we sat back in anticipation."
"I’d put in plenty of pellet and crushed Monster Tiger Nut boilies, and before long, the carp were feeding which was a very good sign."
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Not long after setting up, Zenia was into her first carp, which turned out to be a long 30lb grass carp that smashed her personal best. As she and her partner Joe were unhooking the fish, the right hand rod burst into life with what was clearly a much more powerful fish. After an eventful battle, with the fish doing everything it could to shed the hook, Zenia eventually slipped the net under a monster common carp that would go on to break the venue record at an incredible 44lb.
"I was on cloud nine. I couldn’t believe how the session was going, and I honestly didn’t think it could get any better," she told us.
"However, as we settled down for dinner, we were rudely interrupted by my right hand rod bursting into life again."
"Another incredible battle followed, and I was aware it was another good fish, but when it surfaced, I was completely shocked."
"I was literally shaking. After seeing the size of her, I cried. It was a moment I’ll never forget and I looked at Joe, and he was in disbelief too, we both were just stunned. This session was absolutely insane and so special, it's one I’ll be eternally grateful for."
When they finally got the fish onto the mat and onto the scales, it was confirmed that Zenia had landed the biggest carp of her life, a lovely 45lb mirror. The session had officially turned into the stuff of dreams, with Zenia breaking her personal best three times, with three different species of carp.
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That very night, she also banked another 32lb grass carp, completing the elusive carp grand slam, in a single, unforgettable session.
"I'm proof that fishing dreams can come true and this was the best dream EVER!"
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