18lb-plus barbel shows true power

JOSH Carroll’s decision to travel from his Norfolk home to fish the River Trent paid off in spades when he struck into this immense barbel weighing 18lb 12oz.

It was a new PB for the 21-year-old, who tells us the giant sent his clutch into overdrive after it picked up his boilie hookbait. 

“I managed six other fish during my overnighter at Bob’s Island in Newark, but the fight from this barbel was the best,” he says.

“I knew it was a monster because after it hooked itself I could hear the clutch melting over the sound of the bite alarm!”

Despite using 3lb test curve barbel rods, Josh had his work cut out trying to play the powerful fish in the fast current.

He added:

“Straight away it went for a downstream snag and even with that rod and holding the spool, I couldn’t stop it. 

“I turned its head at the last minute and was able to net my biggest-ever fish, which smashed my previous PB of 11lb 5oz.”

Josh Carroll and his new PB barbel of 18lb 12oz from the River Trent