UK's third-biggest barbel landed

The UK’s third-biggest ever falls to garlic-flavoured meat

Thames record barbel of 20lb 9oz has provided a memorable climax to the river season. 

It’s also the third-biggest UK barbel ever taken, and was landed by Rob Phillips. 

The catch was rich reward for the countless hours Rob has spent in pursuit of the species. He said:“I was a young man when I started barbel fishing the Thames around 20 years ago! I must have done 40 or 50 nights a season ever since, and finally it’s all come good!”

Rob legered a lump of garlic-flavoured meat in a high and coloured Thames to make the catch, adding another big barbel of 14lb 11oz in the same session. Despite his memorable brace, Rob believes there are even bigger fish to come from the famous river.

“That’s the beauty of the Thames – you just don’t know what to expect!” he said. “It’s only a matter of time before the Thames produces a British record!” 

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