Huge Severn zander could best 20lb by winter

Veteran predator angler Dilip Sarkar banked this giant 17lb River Severn zander with the help of modern technology and believes it could challenge the British record for the species by next winter.

 
The Worcester based angler touch- legered a small roach deadbait off his boat to tempt the fine meter long specimen.

“I was on the verge of dozing off when I was woken by the echo sounder that had detected some big shapes directly beneath the hull. I haven’t much faith in technology and thought it might be weed, but my wife convinced me to have a cast,” Dilip said.

“I dropped the rig over the side and a couple of minutes later I got the bite, landing the fish after a good fight.”

It smashed his previous best zander by 4lb 8oz and is yet another reminder of the Severn’s notability as the greatest venue for catching the species.

Dilip, who is now the president of the Pike Angling Club of Great Britain, believes that we will not have long to wait until the current British best of 21lb 5oz caught on the Severn in 2007 is topped again.

 
“There’s no doubt that the Severn will produce a zander over 25lb before too long. The average stamp is getting even bigger - I had 10 double-figure zander last season alone. This is just the tip of the iceberg.”