The nation's ever-growing army of catfish anglers were given huge reason to celebrate this week after the species were readmitted to the British Record lists after a break of more than 20 years.
The news, which was entirely unexpected but roundly welcomed, came after the British Record Fish Committee undertook a ‘comprehensive review of its policy concerning non-native Coarse and Game species’.
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Wels catfish were officially removed from the list just over 23 years ago due to concerns surrounding imported fish. However, as the species’ popularity with anglers has continued to swell, in line with its ever-widening geographical distribution, the BRFC appears to have had a change of heart.
A BRFC spokesperson said: “The committee believes that the self-sustaining population of Wels catfish now growing to specimen sizes in British waters means that the threat of illegal imports of large catfish has diminished and we are therefore willing to receive new claims for the species. In order to avoid an excessive volume of record claims, the BRFC will advise the threshold weight for new claims early in 2024.”
Prior to the list closing in October 2000, the last official ‘record moggie’ to be accepted was a 62lb specimen taken from Withy Pool in Bedfordshire. That same fish, known as ‘Goliath’, was caught again as recently as 2021 at the impressive weight of 101lb, but it remains far from being the biggest cat swimming in British waters.
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Fish to well over the ‘ton’ are present in many venues these days, and they have become a very popular target for big-fish anglers who target them with a range of tactics, from stepped-up carp gear to beefy fly tackle.
Among those to be celebrating the BRFC’s U-turn on the species ‘status’ is Steve Stewart, General Secretary of the Catfish Conservation Group (CCG). He said: “It’s great news that the British Catfish record is going to be reinstated – next year will be our group’s 40th anniversary, so we now have something to start the celebrations with!
“One of the main aims of the CCG over the years has been to represent the wels catfish in the political arena and to try to ensure the species and those that fish for it are treated in a fair and balanced way.
“After a great deal of hard work and lobbying by the CCG, the record will be reinstated which in turn will bring us a step closer to reclassification (of the species) in the UK.”
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