UKCF Anglers.

[Johnny Thunder]

Here are my two biggest pike captures. Both taken within a month of each other.
Weights are 23lb exactly and 23lb 13oz.
As you can see from the photos, I am one or two years older, and one or two pounds heavier now.

[Johnny Thunder]

That is a very nice fish Simon. Congratulations on the capture.
That lake does look interesting. I may just show this link to my friends.

Why do the predators and eel get killed? Is it for food or because people think they kill lots of fish?

[tommy]

That's a beautiful example Simon, weight isn't everything, 22lb. That fish may have been heavier at a different time of year [emoji6].
Americans go by length which can give a better idea of the fishes size. I still like weight in pounds and ounces though, it's part of my childhood and I couldn't change.

[Simon Bolivar]

Beaten by a Carp angler! My best 22lb 10, living in Belgium makes life hard, they still have the Butters attitude to pike, zander *& eels. I am trying to catch the 1% that's never been caught. I do fish in Holland & Scotland to try & even up my chances. The pit I pike fish has 6 carp of over 60lb, last year one Brit caught 2 60's in a morning. But your probably not interested in such beasts?

http://www.carpfishing-holiday.co.uk/

[Johnny Thunder]

I have had a few decent pike over the years too Simon.
My PB is 23lb 13oz which has stood for 25 years.
I have had the odd nasty cut off esox too.

[Simon Bolivar]

There's two raging diseases amongst anglers in the UK today, they either come down with Carpitis or Exoslucyitis, both are incurable & lead to loss of family life & financial hardship. Luckily being a man I fell for the real challenge, where instead of giving you a nasty suck, the beast can slash your whole hand & that's not mentioning the damage the trebles on the lure can do! And you still back in time for tea!

[ValeTudoGuy]

Very nice bud!

Butters killing fish isn't the norm over here, it is done with Trout, Salmon and quite a few Sea fish if it'd for the pot.... But this is purely sport fishing.

Also, lake carp have ended up this shape after years of the lake environment and potentially over feeding and selective breeding. Now a river carp is hugely different in shape. Less tadpole/goldfish, and more missile.

[butternutsquashpie]

This is very much a catch and release sport/hobby.

That's what I've mainly heard from Simon and Marc (Simon Bolivar + Valotudoguy). Here in the vast lakes and rivers of Canada, rainbow trout is an invasive species so I can spear them all I want. Salmon has a surge in population and keeps the bears healthy so I've been able to do it 2 years ago (need to double check the laws again next fall).
Other fishes are available for consumption as well. But the only thing you can't keep (unfortunately) are those crustaceans like lobsters and rock crabs. That's fine, though as the lobsters are $6 a pound here!

[Johnny Thunder]

This is a typical shape of a mirror carp which is now readily stocked in UK and European waters.
Carp fishing is extremely popular with anglers. Specimens around Europe weigh as much as 98lb.
We have had one fish go over 100lb.
This is very much a catch and release sport/hobby.

[butternutsquashpie]

Oh yeah! We've got a bunch of Anglers on here...
Is that a bloated fish? Did you have to release it back due to convservation laws?

I only pick up spearfishing on the East coast when the salmon swim up stream. I love the roe or eggs that are available during that season along with the fish in general. In the spring time, it's just invasive trout that I can take down. Not as good... but still pretty fun.
I should gather up some pictures at the time... But that'd require a waterproof camera - and you're having way too much fun anyways!


I remember Marc has a trident as well?

[Johnny Thunder]

I've been scouring old threads on the forum and noticed that there appears to be quite a few anglers on here.
Just thought I would share my latest catch with you. This was bagged last weekend during the mental gales
we were suffering. True hardcore angling. A 48 hour session spent under a brolly resulting in a genuine winter
mirror carp weighing in at 25lb 10oz.