Hampshire Avon barbel record has been broken

The Hampshire Avon barbel record has been smashed this week with the capture of this impressive 16lb 11oz specimen.

Taken by Ringwood-based speci angler Ben Hutchinson, the big barbel came from a stretch of the waterway controlled by Ringwood & DAA - falling for the 31-year-old’s legered 15mm Marine Halibut boilie presented over a bed of pellets.

“With all the rain there was a lot of weed flowing through the swim, so I had to bury the tip of my rod about a foot underwater to stop the line snagging up,” said the landscape gardener.

“The fish gave a screaming bite and fought like mad. Luckily the previous record-holder and the water’s bailiff, who also used to hold the record, were near by so they could witness the catch.”