John Bailey – The Kingfisher Diaries
September 29th 2009
It's a Monster
I heard the yell of triumph a hundred and odd yards away. I sprinted - in chestwaders and all - around the bank to see the mighty fish enfolded in Dave's landing net. A monster. A Moby Dick of a carp. Perhaps it's true to say that I don't give carp the credit they deserve these days but when I saw this fish I swooned. Instantly, I recognised what the Kingfisher Faithfuls find in leviathans like this. Fish like this would drive me on and on as well. Fish like this can take over your life.
A Norfolk forty pounder - and Dave's went forty-two pounds, seven ounces - is really something quite special. Increasingly so as it's been caught before, yes, but off the radar for many, many years. It's good to know that in these days of otter-stricken waters, a fish can actually lie low, not get caught and still survive unknown despite all the dangers around it.
Interestingly, Dave caught his fish off the top. I don't know how many Norfolk forties have been taken on surface baits but I guess it's not a whole lot. That in itself would be interesting to know.