Angling Times (UK)

World record pike claim

Captor claims this Czech Republic giant weighed in at 58lb 14oz

- CHRIS HAYDON

“Eastern Europe has a long history of producing monster pike”

AN ANGLER from the Czech Republic is claiming to have smashed the world pike record with a 26.7kg specimen.

The monster predator was caught by Lukáš Matějka, measuring a 133cm and weighing in at 58lb 14oz – that’s 3lb 13oz heavier than the official record caught in Germany in 1986.

Currently there is limited informatio­n on the ásh but it has already caused áerce debate among predator anglers on social media – with some sceptical of the ásh’s weight.

Angling Times spoke to big pike ace Neville Fickling for his thoughts on the ásh. “It’s a very tricky one to call with the way photograph­s are presented on social media these days,” he said.

“Certainly its looks like a colossal pike, but it would be nice to see and know the width of the ásh, to make an accurate judgement.”

Eastern Europe has a long history of producing monster pike, so the capture of such a large ásh from the area was not a surprise to some – as Angling Times columnist Paul Garner explained: “The Czech Republic, Germany and Poland are known to have some very rare giants in their waters.

“This certainly looks to be a big pike, and the length indicates a big, barrel-shaped ásh typical of the type of ásh that would come from our own trout waters.”

Will the UK ever see a pike break the 50lb barrier? Paul believes it’s only a matter of time…

“Sooner or later we will see a UK áfty,” he said.

“In my opinion the stocking polices on some of our trout waters make this inevitable. The new record will likely come from a water that surprises everyone too!” he said mysterious­ly...

 ??  ?? The 58lb 14oz pike claimed as a world best.
The 58lb 14oz pike claimed as a world best.
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