Three red maggots were the key to the capture of a record-breaking barbel caught from the River Itchen.

The huge fish weighed 16lb 10oz and smashes the current river best by 2lb 2oz after 68-year-old, Terry Lathwell targeted a stretch of the lower river.

It also sets a new personal best for the Verulum Angling Club member from Borehamwood, Herts, who’s simple feeder tactics also fooled another big barbel in the shape of a 12lb specimen.

“I always fish for barbel with maggot hookbaits and basic feeder tactics. I think too many anglers just go straight to boilies and pellets, so maggots are now something a little bit different that the fish don’t see every day,” Terry told Angling Times.

“The frame of the fish was really hard to believe and it made my 30-inch landing net look a bit inadequate, to say the least. The fish had to fold a bit before I could bring it to the bank.”

Terry used a rig that was made from 12lb line and a size 12 Drennan Super Specialist hook.

“My previous biggest barbel was a River Ivel fish weighing 15lb 2oz, which was a fish I was and still am very proud of, but this really is something else.”