Carp heavier than John Prescott smashes world record

Carp heavier than John Prescott smashes world record

Last updated at 17:34pm on 17th July 2007 Comments (3)

The world record for the biggest carp ever caught has been smashed after a fish was landed weighing almost 20 stone - heavier than John Prescott.

The monster was caught on a homemade rod but was too heavy for the angler's scales. They only went up to 100kg - vastly inadequate for the job.

The giant fish's 20 stone weight is a conservative estimate. It took two men to lift the beast above the water for a photograph, whereupon it slapped one of the men with its tail.

It was caught in Thailand by a local fisherman known only as Kik who works as a guide for mainly European sportsmen.

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The Siamese giant carp slapped the men with its tail as they struggled to hold it. It was caught by Thai fisherman Kik (right)

He belongs to the Jean-Francois Helias' Fishing Adventures team and was trying to catch a Mekong catfish.

Instead he hooked the Siamese Giant Carp, or Catlocarpio siamensis, which was one of five giant carp put into the lake 23 years ago.

Since then, only one other has been caught but anglers will now surely be drawn to the Bung Sam Lan Lake to try and land one of the "biggies".

Heavyweight: Prescott weighs less than the giant carp

Jean-Francois Helias said: "Kik was guiding an American client at the lake and took with him his own custom built rod.

"He was planning to hook and play a Mekong giant catfish to test the rod.

"But he hooked the catch of a lifetime that some anglers would sell their soul to the devil for.

"The Siamese Giant Carp we estimated at weighing just over 120kg or 265 pounds. She may be a tiny bit bigger but to say 120kg is fine with us.

"It is the biggest carp ever caught on rod and line in the history of sport fishing.

"But it will not qualify as the scales available only went up to 100kg.

"I had just got some scales that go up to 500lb but I hadn't had them calibrated or certified.

"It was a difficult fish to picture because it was so big and we had to call for help. And the fish kept slapping people with its tail.

"It was raining heavily, but we managed to get it photographed."