‘Initially, he suspected a small barbel had got in on the action, but as it came closer to the net, he could see it was a chub of mind-blowing size”

Essex angler Paul Faint has been on a remarkable roll with big chub over the last few weeks but has just topped the lot with this 8lb 12oz beast – the biggest reposted this season.

Fishing the Thames on a cold, miserable evening, Paul fished just beyond the marginal shelf with two Handcraft Baits 12mm Herb boilies, wrapped in paste, over a handful of matching feed. With howling wind and pouring rain, Paul was getting ready to call it a day after a few hours, when his tip tapped a few times, and he was into a good fish. Initially, he suspected a small barbel had got in on the action, but as it came closer to the net, he could see it was a chub of mind-blowing size.