It’s just 6oz off the Irish record and obliterates Geoff’s previous 30lb 5oz PB, a fish he never thought he’d better. The specimen was caught on a float fished deadbait whilst fishing from a boat with his son, Mark, who recalled the epic tale of the day. “We were in two minds to go out at all, with 30mph winds and 50mph gusts forecast. We headed out and had the rods in position around 8am. Around an hour later I noticed a wee jack pike trying to hit dad’s float, so I cast out a lure to try and catch it. The next minute his float shot under, and dad set the hooks into a fish that took line.”

Despite Geoff declaring that the fish felt big, Mark initially reckoned it was likely the small fish that he’d hooked. “I moved the other rods out the way, but it wasn’t until I heard the reel squealing and saw the bend in the rod that I realised this was no jack. Dad fought the fish for about 10 minutes, with it taking line each time it neared the boat”. When the fish showed on the surface Mark swiftly netted what they both knew was a specimen well over 30lbs.

“We weighed it, and when the scales read 42lb 6oz, dad was shaking,” he added. “Dad was medically retired a few years ago after having a stroke, so I’m absolutely over the moon for him with this fish. “We never had another bite that day and had to pull the pin on the session early as the wind worsened. It was a freezing day and we both went home soaked through!”

Well done Geoff!