UK's biggest common caught

Margin tactics proved the downfall of the biggest common carp in Britain.

The 58lb 7oz fish, known as the Lee Jackson fish, was landed by John Warden on his first visit to Strawberry Fields in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

The 40-year-old supervisor fished just 10 yards from the bank to trick the impressive specimen within hours of setting up for a 48 hour session.

“I got the take at about 9pm on the first evening. Initially it was a screaming run and when I struck into it, it carried on stripping line from my reel,” said the Gillingham-based rod.

“When I landed it I thought it was a forty and I told my friend I thought it would go 42lb — but then I went to lift it and I knew it was something special.

“I initially weighed it at 59lb but we went down the bank and got some of the regulars to weigh it and identify it, and we settled on 58lb 7oz.

“I was just in shock.”

The fish, which is more than 3lb heavier than the famous Burghfield Common’s last recorded weight, is one of two 50lb-plus commons in Strawberry Fields.

It fell to two Mainline Cell boillies fished snowman style on a Nash Fang hook tied to an Atomic Tackle Jel-E-Wyre hooklink.

John, whose previous personal best was 52lb 4oz, scattered about 100 freebies over each rod and tamed the fish on a Nash H-Gun rod and 14lb mainline.

“I couldn’t ask for a better first session on the water and I’ll definitely be going back,” he said.