Roach record rocked with 4lb 1oz specimen

A carp angler had a big surprise when he banked a roach just short of the British record that topped the scales at 4lb 1oz.

The huge specimen falls just 3oz shy of the current best and was netted by Sean Jackson when he fished a session at Highbridge Lakes Norfolk.

It’s a venue that’s known for its stock of large roach as it produced a stunning 3lb 13oz fish for well-known specialist Chris Turnbull earlier this year, but this is the lakes first ever fish to break the 4lb barrier.

Just a day after banking a new personal best carp at 36lb 8oz, Sean who comes from Fakenham, Norfolk, received a couple of bleeps on his alarm and at first thought he’d hooked a bream.

But with a previous personal best that stood at 2lb 8oz, that was also caught from the six-acre fishery, the 31-year-old, mechanic soon knew that his two 15mm Urban Baits boilies had been taken by a big ‘redfin’.

“When I saw the sheer size of the fish and realised that it had to be pushing 4lb I just had to call Dale the fishery manager as it would have been wrong not to have a witness and a proper picture of such a huge specimen,” said Sean.

“This just makes you wonder what else is in this lake, but that goes for many other waters that have carp syndicates in operation because these fish grow fat on all of the high protein baits that are introduced and really are an exciting prospect for coarse anglers.”

There are both carp and coarse fishing syndicates in operation at ‘Highbridge’, but there are many places left on the former, which allows members to fish for roach and other coarse species from October 2014 until March 31, 2015 for £150.

“It’s a big fish for this time of the year and there’s no doubt it could be at a record weight this winter,” said fishery manager Dale Mclachlan.

For more information and to enquire about places on the coarse fishing syndicate call Dale on: 07983 988920.

Click here for more angling news...