River Severn barbel record smashed!

AN ANGLER from Birmingham has etched his name into the history books after slipping his net under a new River Severn barbel record weighing 18lb on the nose.

Dean O’brien with the new Severn record barbel of 18lb exactly

Dean O’brien was fishing a day session on a stretch of the lower river when at 6pm his luncheon meat offering was picked up by the powerful fish, signalling the start of a nervy battle.

It’s thought to be the third time in two months that the huge specimen, which has been given the name Red Spot due to a distinctive red colouration above its anal fin, has graced the bank.

“As soon as I picked up the rod the fish just hugged the bottom and powered off – I couldn’t stop it from charging towards an overhanging tree and snagging me up,” Dean told us.

“My mate Spencer Thomas caught her a couple of weeks ago at 17lb 4oz and mentioned that it felt like a heavy weight that just stayed deep like a 25lb carp, so there was no doubt in my mind what fish I’d hooked.”

By manoeuvring himself next to the tree, Dean managed to guide his quarry out from the underwater obstruction and recommence the battle in open water, before netting his prize 15 minutes later. By this point, three other anglers including Spencer and a member of the Barbel Society arrived to witness the weighing on Dean’s 60lb-rated Reuben Heaton scales. He said:

“When the needle read 18lb none of us could believe it. The fish had obviously been feeding up ahead of winter.

“It was only weighed once as I wanted to get this precious fish back into the water as quickly as possible, but we were all in agreement with the weight.”

Over the last three months the two previous captures of Red Spot have received scrutiny on social media over the proposed weight of 17lb 4oz, although Dean believes his catch will put all the doubters to rest.

“Having it weighed wrong once could be a coincidence, but it’s now been weighed three times over 17lb,” he added.

Current official River Severn record

16lb 11oz, Kevin Gittins, October 2014

Biggest confirmed Severn barbel in 2020

17lb 4oz, Andrew Hadfield, September

17lb 4oz, Spencer Thomas, October

18lb, Dean O’brien, November