This 18lb 12oz barbel was the biggest of seven-fish hit for Josh Carroll during a recent session at Bob’s Island in Newark, and it absolutely smashed his previous PB of 11lb 5oz.

Josh successful tactics included PVA bags of pellet which were just nicked onto his fishmeal boilie hookbait. Josh added “When this barbel picked up my bait I could hear the clutch melting over the sound of the alarm! When I got into contact with it I instantly knew it was big, even with a 3lb TC rod I just couldn’t stop it whilst holding the spool. It went straight for a snag to my right by luckily it turned last minute. It was a proper epic battle.”