The Thames always throws up a few huge barbel at the back end of the season, and this year it was the turn of London angler Dean Renouf to get in on the action.
Fishing the middle reaches of the river, Dean had been trying to catch a big barbel for the past four seasons, and finally succeeded in his quest when he banked this superb 18lb 6oz specimen.
“My dad’s biggest barbel weighed 16lb 9oz, and I’ve spent years trying to beat it. It was a stunning fish that fought like an express train!” said Dean.
Dean Renouf and his 18lb 6oz Thames barbel