The fish which sets a new record for the River Thames, is the third biggest recorded barbel in angling history, swinging the scales round to a staggering 20lb 9oz!

It was landed by time-served barbel fanatic, Rob Phillips, who was understandably delighted with the capture, claiming “I still can’t believe it, I’m still in shock, I’ve made Thames history!”

The capture was clearly well deserved, he told us “I was a young man when I first started barbel fishing the Thames around 20 years ago, I must have done 40 or 50 nights a season since, and finally it’s all come good!”

Rob opted for a single bait approach, legering what he described as “good old garlic flavoured meat, a smelly bait, which is essential when the rivers up and flowing like a good un!”