I caught this beautiful 40lb+ carp, four years ago in 2017. It's without question the most special carp that I've ever caught, to me personally. It lived in a SSSI venue. It does not have a silly name. Her and her friends, are all ex river Thames fish. All naturally flooded into gravel pits, on the Thames flood plains. I was shown a photograph of this fish, caught twenty five years ago, at 18lb, from the lock cut at Sonning on the river Thames.
They absolutely thrived in their new, truly low stock environment, with no involvement from man whatsoever. The small handful of carp, all grew to epic proportions in their new rich home. The venue was strictly no fishing, I caught this fish rightly or wrongly, by hiding in the bushes. Whilst fishing the venue, I saw a carp in the water, which I think was over the current British record. It was ginormous. This fish, had been caught once before, at just over 30lb many years previously. It was easily over 65lb when I saw it. I saw it swimming with a fish that I went onto catch at 40lb, it absolutely dwarfed it. I was stupid enough to tell a few people what I saw.
Fast forward a year to 2018. A small 5 man syndicate was formed on the pit, I was always meant to be one of them, but in the end, was not. Terry Hearn ended up with a ticket. Over the following two years, otters were first spotted on the pit. They had recently moved onto a pit nearby.
This beautiful nameless fish, has never been caught, or even seen since. Skeletons have been found, and it's quite likely, that this fish has now been killed by otters. In all likelihood, the completely unknown monster I saw too. My friend Sam got a ticket, he caught a 46lb mirror this year. So they are not all dead, but it does not look good at all for those very special fish.
Poxy otters.
They absolutely thrived in their new, truly low stock environment, with no involvement from man whatsoever. The small handful of carp, all grew to epic proportions in their new rich home. The venue was strictly no fishing, I caught this fish rightly or wrongly, by hiding in the bushes. Whilst fishing the venue, I saw a carp in the water, which I think was over the current British record. It was ginormous. This fish, had been caught once before, at just over 30lb many years previously. It was easily over 65lb when I saw it. I saw it swimming with a fish that I went onto catch at 40lb, it absolutely dwarfed it. I was stupid enough to tell a few people what I saw.
Fast forward a year to 2018. A small 5 man syndicate was formed on the pit, I was always meant to be one of them, but in the end, was not. Terry Hearn ended up with a ticket. Over the following two years, otters were first spotted on the pit. They had recently moved onto a pit nearby.
This beautiful nameless fish, has never been caught, or even seen since. Skeletons have been found, and it's quite likely, that this fish has now been killed by otters. In all likelihood, the completely unknown monster I saw too. My friend Sam got a ticket, he caught a 46lb mirror this year. So they are not all dead, but it does not look good at all for those very special fish.
Poxy otters.
In reply to Post #1
What a beautiful carp that is 😲
Such a shame for them with the otters I hope they don't get all of them and some of those stunning fish are saved, did you not manage to get a ticket because others wanted it or was it just because you turned it down?
What a beautiful carp that is 😲
Such a shame for them with the otters I hope they don't get all of them and some of those stunning fish are saved, did you not manage to get a ticket because others wanted it or was it just because you turned it down?
In reply to Post #1
What a fish,
What a fish,
In reply to Post #2
No my ticket was given to someone else. I was promised a ticket for the following year, 'good business reasons' and the fact I had already caught the stunning fully were cited as to the reasons why.... Out of principle, I had a tantrum, and I refused that offer. I was, and still am the only person who had seen that monster fish as far as I know.
It cost me a good friend in the syndicate boss. We did not speak for four years, and have only very recently spoken again.
I was very lucky in the end anyway, with what has happened since. I caught four fish from the pit, in very quick succession. In and out. I'm not sure that it's even done four fish, in the following four years, even when they have not had to hide in the bushes.
No my ticket was given to someone else. I was promised a ticket for the following year, 'good business reasons' and the fact I had already caught the stunning fully were cited as to the reasons why.... Out of principle, I had a tantrum, and I refused that offer. I was, and still am the only person who had seen that monster fish as far as I know.
It cost me a good friend in the syndicate boss. We did not speak for four years, and have only very recently spoken again.
I was very lucky in the end anyway, with what has happened since. I caught four fish from the pit, in very quick succession. In and out. I'm not sure that it's even done four fish, in the following four years, even when they have not had to hide in the bushes.
In reply to Post #4
Respect Mark, great fish and background story, thanks for sharing. Love the cheeky grin in the bottom picture.
Respect Mark, great fish and background story, thanks for sharing. Love the cheeky grin in the bottom picture.
In reply to Post #1
Absolutely stunning fish Mark and a great story behind it. So sad to here about the otters on there..
Thanks for sharing ...
Absolutely stunning fish Mark and a great story behind it. So sad to here about the otters on there..
Thanks for sharing ...
Quite possibly the best looking fish I have seen. Maybe in a few years time I will try and find a similar venue away from all the crowds.
What a stunning fish that is
In reply to Post #4
I don't think Tel took up the offer in the end Mark. I was also offered a ticket when it became a syndicate but turned it down as I was working full time then, and it was quite expensive for a ticket that I'd have hardly used. Real shame, as that fully is absolutely an amazing fish, as was the linear (which I'm told is definitely dead).
I don't think Tel took up the offer in the end Mark. I was also offered a ticket when it became a syndicate but turned it down as I was working full time then, and it was quite expensive for a ticket that I'd have hardly used. Real shame, as that fully is absolutely an amazing fish, as was the linear (which I'm told is definitely dead).
Wow...lovely creature...
Sadly,and its hard for me to say this,those big water rats are something we are going to have to live with..I've seen so much devastated lakes and anglers, I knew it'd bee a matter of a few years and they'd be doing the do in southern waters..
I've just had a nice fish,with regeneration on its rudder,
Regeneration is the thing all anglers need to learn and understand as that gives a small overview,or clue to what's been happening on a venue...
Lots of fish locally all regenerative survivors,..other than the ones killed ..
Sadly,and its hard for me to say this,those big water rats are something we are going to have to live with..I've seen so much devastated lakes and anglers, I knew it'd bee a matter of a few years and they'd be doing the do in southern waters..
I've just had a nice fish,with regeneration on its rudder,
Regeneration is the thing all anglers need to learn and understand as that gives a small overview,or clue to what's been happening on a venue...
Lots of fish locally all regenerative survivors,..other than the ones killed ..
In reply to Post #1
Lovely carp that mate, such a shame what is happening up and down the country, something needs to be done.
On a lighter note, next time your sneaking about and hiding in bushes, choose a quieter hat 😂
Lovely carp that mate, such a shame what is happening up and down the country, something needs to be done.
On a lighter note, next time your sneaking about and hiding in bushes, choose a quieter hat 😂
In reply to Post #9
It was not an 'offer' Roland... He straight out went down there and asked Al for a ticket on the back of what I'd seen and told him... Then I was told I could not have my ticket, it was being given to him for business reasons. It led to me and Al falling out for four years. Yateley old pals act.
All fallout from the Thames, his mate the Pest caused a lot of trouble, which led to us no longer talking.Tel always promised me, that he would never come anywhere near, until I had caught it. I had chased it over three stretches, for a long old time, six or seven years total. Then his mate suddenly showed up and caught it. Then the area was very quickly destroyed. Then all previous promises, all suddenly went out the window.
The previous winter, I had secured him a ticket for where I fish now whilst we were piking on the Thames, a ticket which he could previously not sort out. He was meant to have started last year. That previous recommendation, went out of the window obviously and that did not happen.
Big carp fun and games. Life goes on. The big pit will have 3 different 60's in it next year, and one, if not all of them will unquestionably break the current British record within the next few years.
It was not an 'offer' Roland... He straight out went down there and asked Al for a ticket on the back of what I'd seen and told him... Then I was told I could not have my ticket, it was being given to him for business reasons. It led to me and Al falling out for four years. Yateley old pals act.
All fallout from the Thames, his mate the Pest caused a lot of trouble, which led to us no longer talking.Tel always promised me, that he would never come anywhere near, until I had caught it. I had chased it over three stretches, for a long old time, six or seven years total. Then his mate suddenly showed up and caught it. Then the area was very quickly destroyed. Then all previous promises, all suddenly went out the window.
The previous winter, I had secured him a ticket for where I fish now whilst we were piking on the Thames, a ticket which he could previously not sort out. He was meant to have started last year. That previous recommendation, went out of the window obviously and that did not happen.
Big carp fun and games. Life goes on. The big pit will have 3 different 60's in it next year, and one, if not all of them will unquestionably break the current British record within the next few years.
Thank you for all the kind comments. It's very much appreciated.
In reply to Post #13
If it makes you any better,3 otters have been: 'found' dead in the last 18 months in my neck of the woods.
If it makes you any better,3 otters have been: 'found' dead in the last 18 months in my neck of the woods.
In reply to Post #15
Thanks Ken. That's really strange, my original post with the video, is not working on my Mac on desktop... But it is working perfectly on my iPhone.
Thanks for the link
Thanks Ken. That's really strange, my original post with the video, is not working on my Mac on desktop... But it is working perfectly on my iPhone.
Thanks for the link
In reply to Post #12
Ah OK Mark, no probs. It was DS that told me whilst he was destroying my tea supplies on Hindles! I hope you bag the big one at a mega weight, and who knows how big some of the others are too. Pretty sure I've seen your set up as I've driven between Theale2 and Causeway a few times on the M4
Ah OK Mark, no probs. It was DS that told me whilst he was destroying my tea supplies on Hindles! I hope you bag the big one at a mega weight, and who knows how big some of the others are too. Pretty sure I've seen your set up as I've driven between Theale2 and Causeway a few times on the M4
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