9lb 3oz chub caught on film

A huge chub of 9lb 3oz – just two ounces short of the current British record – has been caught from the River Thames by specimen angler Carl Welch.

After finding the massive fish in an overgrown swim, the 35-year-old used his camcorder to meticulously record its feeding habits and study its behaviour in the week’s prior to its capture.

“I’ve never seen such a spooky fish that fed so cautiously,” said Carl. “Being able to record it and then analyse its behaviour was a massive help as I was able to work out the route it was taking and which baits it preferred. There’s no doubt this fish will be a British record come winter,” he added.

Click the play button below to see the exclusive footage of Carl’s chub.