River Thames barbel hits 15lb 1oz

The River Thames is the new kid on the block where specimen barbel fishing is concerned – as Justin Beale proved with this beauty of 15lb 1oz.

The Bait-Tech and Kodex-backed angler reverted to traditional barbel tactics to fool the fine double-figure fish.

Meat rolled through a well-oxygenated stretch of the river brought the all-important bite. 

He told Angling Times: “I caught the barbel early evening at around 7pm, so it was a rare yet thrilling sight to see such a big barbel in daylight.”

He added: “The catch was extra-special because it was my twentieth Thames barbel over the 15lb barrier.”