Orion falls to Adam Penning at 43lb 2oz

“The one I really wanted!” That’s how Adam Penning described this 43lb 2oz mirror carp which brought a successful conclusion to his autumn campaign on the Quarry in Essex.
The well known angling coach has been targeting the 22-acre venue for the last six weeks, and after photographing the fish known as Orion for one his clients last summer he set his sights on catching it.
He said: “My client, Sam Croft, caught it at a spawned-out weight of 31lb and it was one of the most impressive carp I had ever seen.
“Orion’s last capture was in April, and with that being its only visit to the bank this year we all had a feeling he could be big and even break the 40lb barrier for the first time.”
Following a string of captures, including a few repeats, Adam’s perseverance was finally rewarded.
“I was beginning to wonder what I had to do to get one of the lake’s real units – the answer was, of course to keep going, keep catching and it would come.
“At 6am Friday morning, the planets aligned and the incredible fish rested, beaten in my net. Orion weighed 43lb 2oz and was my 40th fish from the lake. Not only was it a forty-pounder, but also the most desirable carp I have seen in a long time – perfect tail, sloping head and an underslung mouth.
“I was, and still am, totally stupefied. Thank you, carp gods!” he added.