45lb 12oz Box Common comes quietly on social session
Luke with the Box Common at 45lb 12oz.
The Box Common, one of the most sought-after day-ticket carp in the country, has been banked at 45lb 12oz.
Luke Thornett caught the fish during a three-night session at St John’s, on the Linear Fisheries complex in Oxfordshire.
The 30-year-old from Oxford also snared two 20lb mirrors during his session in the Point swim at the popular gravel pit.
He told Angling Times: “When I arrived it was flat calm and the fish were fizzing like mad – there were pinprick bubbles all over so I knew the fish were there.”
The electrician fished to a gravel bar just 30 yards out and baited with boilies and hemp.
He said: “On the first night the bar was covered with floating weed that had been cut by the weed-cutting boat and had anchored on the bar. But by the second night the wind had picked up and cleared it.”
The Box Common appeared at 6.30am on Luke’s final day. He said. “It was an absolute one-toner, but when I hit into it it just kited straight into the weed, which wasn’t attached to anything, so it covered its eyes and the fish just came straight in.
“When I got it in the net I expected it to be a little pasty, but when I pulled the weed away I knew it was a big common.
“I don’t usually fish these sorts of waters – I prefer low-stock pits where I can be left alone – so it’s mad that I only went down for a social and had this one!”