A roach that could blow the current British Recordout of the water has just been landed.
Young Arthur Barclay slipped his net under the remarkable 4lb 8oz redfin after it slurped down a chunk of floating bread he was using to target carp at a private lake in East Anglia – a region with a rich history of producing some of the largest roach ever caught in Britain.
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The 13-year-old schoolboy is planning to submit a claim to the British Record Fish Committee, with the hope of having the history-making specimen ratified as a new official best.
If given the thumbs up by authorities, it would comfortably beat Keith Berry’s current 4lb 4oz record, taken from a Northern Ireland stillwater back in 2006.
On initial inspection, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Arthur’s fish has a touch of rudd in it, due to its golden sheen. But the lake Arthur caught it from doesn’t hold any of that species.
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“I was targeting carp on the surface using bread, on a session with my brother Charlie and friend Ned” he told us.
“Conditions were perfect, and I had a feeling it was going to be a good session. At about 7pm I hooked what I knew was a roach by its slow fight, compared to the carp I’m used to catching. Quickly, I realised it was a monster, and my brother Charlie netted the fish and grabbed the landing mat and scales.”
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After calling their mum, Sarah, who rushed over to take photos and witness the weighing, it dawned on Arthur just how significant the catch might be.
“We were all so shocked and excited,” he added.
“I’ve been dreaming of catching a really special fish for years, so to land this one has been totally epic!
“I’ll be submitting a claim to the BRFC, as well as the Guinness Book of Records!”
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The day after making the catch, Arthur and his mum drove to Suffolk Water Park, where they showed the pictures to fishery staff.
“We wanted to find someone official to verify his catch, and were introduced to an EA officer,” Sarah told us.
“He asked lots of questions and looked closely at the picture. He said it was a roach and possibly a UK and world record. Everyone came over to see the picture and talk to Arthur – they were amazed this young man had caught such an enormous roach! The EA officer said you could fish for 100 years and never see anything like this.”
BRITAIN’S FIVE BIGGEST-EVER ROACH
1. ARTHUR BARCLAY – 4lb 8oz, East Anglian lake, 2023
2. KEITH BERRY – 4lb 4oz, Northern Ireland Stillwater, 2006
3. RAY CLARKE – 4lb 3oz, Dorset Stour, 1990
4. MARK STONE – 4lb 2oz 8dr, Culreach Castle, 2010
5. ALAN STOREY – 4lb 2oz – Southern stillwater 2007; Southern chalkstream 2021
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