Largest recorded catfish in UK caught in Maldon, says angler

Maldon: Shaun Ing just made waves in the fishing world. He caught a whopping 150lb catfish at Chigborough Fisheries. It took him a wild 90 minutes to reel it in, and he was left feeling “absolutely broken.”

This catch, if confirmed, would be the largest catfish ever recorded in the UK. Shaun hooked the fish at the end of September 2024, and he’s still waiting for the official nod from the British Record Fish Committee. The current record is 143lb, set by another catfish from the same lake last May.

Shaun was fishing with his wife, Chloe, and some friends when the fish took his bright yellow bait. He described the catfish as incredibly powerful, measuring over 8ft long. It was like trying to walk a dozen German shepherds at once!

His friends couldn’t help until he got the fish closer to the bank. Even after an hour, the fish was still pulling line, and they were all wondering how long it would take. They joked about still being there in the morning!

Eventually, they managed to lift the catfish out of the water using some weigh slings and a body bag from a Halloween event. It was so heavy that it bent the scales! The fish had been caught 10 years ago, weighing about 20lbs less.

Shaun, who’s been fishing since he was a kid, said this catch is a big deal for Chigborough Fisheries, where he and Chloe volunteer. It’s given them so much over the years.

A spokesperson from the British Record Fish Committee confirmed they’ve received Shaun’s record claim, but it’s still under review. The catfish has been released into a special lake at the fishery, where it can thrive.