Just like buses, a while after an almighty 5lb 11oz perch was landed from the River Thames, another brute has been reported of the same size, which is believd to be an entirely different specimen.

It was caught by Hampshire angler Adam Melton, who used a Z-Man lure on a Ned Rig to tempt it. He’s arrived just before 7am and, having started in a favourite spot but receiving little in the way of action, he headed to a swim by an inlet. Casting out, he hadn’t had a single pluck on the lure until he hit what he thought was a snag right by his feet. But, when the ‘snag’ shook its head, he knew he’d hooked something special.

After battling it for a few minutes the fish lunged for a patch of weed, but thankfully for Adam, it freed itself. When Adam put it on the scales, he was staggered to see them swing round to 5lb 11oz. At 51.5cm, the length of the fish was equally impressive. This fish, alongside the specimen of the same weight reported a few weeks ago, make the Thames a venue to watch this winter for a possible British Record.

Well done Adam!