A 200-mile trip to the River Kennet from his home in South Yorkshire was well worth it for barbel fanatic John Harrison, who landed this mighty 18lb 5oz fish.
Fishing with his friend Steve Day, John had a bite at around 4am and was given the fight of his life, with his powerful barbel rod bent double. After 10 tense minutes, though, the fish eventually came to the net.
Just an hour earlier, his friend Steve had been snapped by a fish on his 15lb hooklink, and amazingly he found that very hook in the fish’s mouth. Both were removed before the fish, a new PB for John, was safely released.
John Harrison – 18lb 5oz barbel