Fernando Costa hadn’t fished much over the last few seasons due to work commitments and some health issues, but early March he visited the Colne and landed this 16lb 5oz barbel.
Fishing with his friend Rui Pedro (both are London-based chefs, originally from Portugal), the pair arrived on Saturday morning, and Fernando spent hours without a rod in the water, trickling a mixture of meat and pellets into a swim. He started fishing early in the afternoon, but it wasn’t until 2:30am that his left-hand rod roared off.
After a great battle the fish was netted, and both anglers celebrated a fish that’s just over a pound off the river record.
Well done Fernando!