THE barbel record on the famous Royalty stretch of the Hampshire Avon that has stood firm since 1937 has finally been beated by a 14lb 8oz cracker.
And amazingly the fish fell to a match angler who was feeder fising in a 25-peg knock up!
Bromley, Kent angler John O’Halloran drew a swim known as Fiddler’s West, and decided to feeder fish caster to catch anything that came along.
But not for a second did he bargain for the history making barbel, which destroys his own personal best by five and half pounds!
Luckily John, who regularly fishes for the hard fighting carp of Willow Park near the M25, was geared up for the job, as he opted to fish with a size 12 hook, 7lb hooklength and 10lb braid mainline.
But amazingly and despite atrocious fishing conditions, it wasn’t enough for the 32-year-old to take the Downham AC match – his weight was only good enough for fourth as the winner weighed in 22lb of bream.
The catch will drop the jaws of many hardened specialists who have tried and failed to beat the old mark of 14lb 6oz, caught from the Chritschurch AC day ticket venue by Alymer Tyron in 1934 and equalled by an FWK Wallis in 1937.