On a memorable trip to the Norfolk Broads, Paul Croft banked this immense pike of 37lb 4oz, alongside others of 29lb 2oz and 23lb 14oz.
Conditions weren't exactly typical of what you would expect to be conducive to good pike fishing, with all the fish being caught on a warm, sunny day, when there was hardly a ripple on the water.
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Paul was using his trusty paternoster rig, that consisted of 15lb Berkley Big Fish Mono, coupled with a 40lb hooklink. His choice of deadbait was the ever faithful sardine. After landing a small jack just before lunchtime, he then had to wait a few hours before his float slid away again, but it would prove to be worth the wait.
Paul connected with a powerful fish that was clearly no jack, and battled it for around eight minutes before it came to his net.
The fish is a new PB, and although he has caught two other 30-pounders since he started pike fishing back in 2009, he describes this latest specimen as ‘the fish of his lifetime’.
ONE OF THE BEST PIKE REELS IS REQUIRED WHEN USING THE HEAVY END TACKLE REQUIRED FOR BIG PIKE.
