‘I’ve been cheated out of record,’ says angler who netted 5st carp
AN ANGLER who reeled in a 5st carp claims he has been “cheated” out of setting a new British record after judges disallowed his catch because the fish was already too big when it was imported into the UK.
Vinny Parker, 54, was “shaking like jelly” when he landed the 69lb 10z (31.7kg) carp, known among fishermen as Captain Jack, at Holme Fen Fishery in Huntingdon, Cambs.
The painter and decorator believed he had broken the current record for the largest catch, set in 2016 when Dean Fletcher fished a 68lb 1oz carp from Cranwells Lake in Wasing, Berks.
But Mr Parker’s claim was rejected by the British Record Fish Committee (BRFC) last month after a judging panel decided Captain Jack was too heavy when it was moved from Israel in 2013.
Adjudicators also disqualified the catch because the carp had been fed too many pellets before it was plucked from the water in September. Mr Parker claimed he had been treated unjustly, arguing clearer rules were needed so that anglers were aware of what constituted a legal claim.
The 54-year-old is unable to appeal the ruling. He said: “I feel slightly cheated because the rules are very vague and it comes down to the whim of the judging panel.” The BRFC published guidelines last year, but while it analysed height, weight, length and origin of any given fish when they are stocked in Britain, no specific criteria was given.
Carp are not native to British waters and those found in the UK are either imported or specially reared here.
The BRFC said: “We cannot consider this a British record, and that word British is important, because it was imported from Israel at such a high weight and stocked into the fishery at a high weight.
“The second consideration is that for several months the fishery was artificially fed with 150kg of pellets a week, and that goes against the criteria we set.”
In response to claims its rules are “vague”, it added: “The BRFC has stated on more than one occasion that it will consider claims on their merits. It would be difficult to impose rigid criteria.”