19lb BARBEL OUT
Drama as Mick smashes pb with third-biggest fish of the season
AN ENORMOUS barbel of 19lb 8oz has been landed from an undisclosed southern river during what typically can be a very challenging time of year for the species.
The fabulous fish was caught by Mick Mills from Littlehampton, West Sussex, and was witnessed on the bank by three other anglers.
Delighted on his new personal best, Mick said: “I knew there was the chance of a big barbel from the stretch, as I had caught them here to 14lb-plus previously.
“The fish battled really hard and snagged me three times before I managed to net it. Once it was on the scales, I was over the moon to see it had smashed my previous best of 15lb 8oz.”
A large piece of luncheon meat presented on a size-4 hook was the bait that fooled the big southern barbel.
The set-up for the hard-fighting fish included a 12lb mainline and a 1.75lb test curve Drennan Power Barbel rod.