The Hampshire Avon’s famous Royalty fishery more than lived up to its reputation as a barbel haven recently after producing this stunning 16lb 8oz specimen.
Caught by retired angler Ron Brook, the fish equals the fishery’s record for the species and tops off a stunning week of sport on the stretch that saw several double figure fish banked - including another different 16lb specimen.
Fishing a short afternoon session, Ron free-llined meat wrapped in paste just 2feet from the bank to fool the large fish.
Once hooked it gave the 70-year-old a good scrap but was still in the net in a few minutes thanks to 12lb mainline, ESP Strip Teaze hooklink and a size 6 hook.
Matching the weight of the current fishery record for the species - landed at the end of last season by Tewksbury-rod Mike Brownett – the fish is also just 3oz off the Hampshire Avon river record.
Nigel Gray of Davis Tackle in Christchurch thinks it might not be too long before the Royalty fish surpass that weight:
”With two different 16lb fish coming out in just 8days there’s a very good chance the record will come to the Royalty if the fish keep feeding,” he told Total Coarse Fishing. “ However, the water temperature has now dropped quite a bit, so it may not be this year that it happens.”
The current Hampshire Avon barbel river record was caught in October 2010 by Ringwood angler Ben Hutchinson at 16lb 11oz form a Ringwood and District Angling Association stretch of the waterway.
