When it comes to rating the significance of a catch, the obvious deciding factor is the size of the fish. But its location and the way it was caught are also worth considering, and voters did just that when deciding this 2023’s winner of 'Catch of the Year', as Koi Croydon took the title with a magnificent 8lb 2oz chub.
FIND THE BEST VENUES FOR A BIG CHUB NEAR YOU IN THIS WHERE TO FISH GUIDE.
An eight-pound chub is a monster from anywhere, but when we consider that Koi’s fish was caught from the Derbyshire Derwent – a venue far from the species’ hotspots on the Rivers Thames, Lea, Avon and Stour, its magnitude is amplified.
In addition, Koi didn’t have the fish on a bolt-rigged boilie – it fell to trotted bread flake, a classic chub tactic if ever there was one.
When he found out he’d won our award, Koi was almost speechless.
“I really can’t believe it – all the early mornings, long walks, and hours of research are made worthwhile with recognition like this,” he told us.
“I work six days a week, and have a one-year-old son plus another baby on the way, so fishing fits in when it can!
“Every morning and night I walk the dogs by stretches, planning for future sessions.”
Koi’s dad was a lifelong angler (hence Koi’s name!) and brought him up in matchfishing circles.
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“I was really into match angling but drifted away from it in my late teens,” Koi explained.
“I spent years just enjoying my fishing, but over the last few seasons I’ve been after big fish.
"My approach is a mixture of match and speci tactics and is probably a bit more active than your usual ‘big fish’ approach.”
Living on the Nottinghamshire/ Derbyshire border, Koi has some great fishing on his doorstep.
“I think the big fish scene in the Midlands deserves more credit, and I’ve got trips planned for a few more specimens this year,” he revealed.
“A big Trent zander is on the agenda, plus a seven-pound chub. I skipped straight to ‘eight’!”
HIGHLY COMMENDED - ADAM MELTON 5LB 11OZ PERCH
The Thames has been in blistering form this season, with arguably the best fish of all to be caught from there being this enormous 5lb 11oz perch.
It was taken by Adam Melton on lure tactics during an early morning session, but perhaps what’s more impressive is the fact that it was caught in late August.
Come the back end of the season the fish has huge potential to break the British Record of 6lb 3oz.
FIND A MONSTER PERCH VENUE NEAR YOU IN THIS WHERE TO FISH GUIDE.
HOW YOU VOTED...
Koi Croydon – 8lb 2oz Chub – River Derwent
52.4% of you voted
An 8lb chub is a monster from any river, but one from as far north as the River Derwent is simply ludicrous. But, Koi Croydon tempted a fish 2oz over that magic mark from that very waterway, with trotted bread his winning tactic.
Adam Melton – 5lb 11oz Perch – River Thames
17.6% of you voted
The Thames continued to throw up huge fish of all species this year, but Adam Melton’s 5lb 11oz perch had to be a highlight. It was caught on lure tactics and is a fish that could well top the British Record come the end of the season.
Steve Pitts – 7lb 7oz Eel – Wild Stillwater
7.9% of you voted
Eel fanatic Steve Pitts is one of the nation’s most respected anglers. He only targets eels and loves the challenge catching a specimen poses. After 155 blanks, he was rewarded with a 7lb 7oz leviathan from what he describes as a ‘wild stillwater’.
Paul Parish – 4lb 2oz Roach – Linear Fisheries
4.8% of you voted
The incredibly popular Linear Fisheries showed that it offers far more than the carp it’s famous for after Paul Parish landed a 4lb 2oz roach from the venue. The huge fish is the highlight of a great year for Paul and was caught on maggot feeder tactics.
David Pratt – 15lb Tench – Midlands Stillwater
3.6% of you voted
The biggest tench ever caught by design was landed in July. It weighed 15lb exactly and fell to the rod of David Pratt – an all-rounder who tempted the fish from a midlands stillwater on the ever-popular worm kebab rig.
Ian Wilson – 20lb 8oz Zander – Tidal Trent
3.6% of you voted
Zander are growing in popularity year on year, with the Trent rapidly becoming the UK’s premier venue for the species. Ian Wilson blew species enthusiasts away with his remarkable 20lb 8oz fish – the result of hundreds of hours on the bank.
Chris Harrison – 20lb 4oz Bream – Southern Stillwater
3% of you voted
After eels, big bream are up there with the most respected of specimen fish. A twenty-pounder is the fish of dreams for species enthusiasts, and Chris Harrison managed to smash that mark after years of trying with a Hampshire fish.
Mike Davidson – 3lb 8oz Grayling – Scottish River
3% of you voted
The rivers of Scotland are fast becoming Britain’s premier grayling destination, as Mike Davidson proved with a remarkable haul of grayling. He had 89 over 1lb, 25 of which weighed over 2lb mark, topped by fish of 3lb 8oz, 3lb 4oz and 3lb 3oz!
Nick Gahagan – 44lb 7oz Pike – Chew Valley Lake
1.8% of you voted
Chew Valley Lake had yet another remarkable season, and it took something special to top the catches. But Nick Gahagan’s 44lb 7oz pike did just that! It was taken on Nick’s first visit to the venue and was caught from the bank.
Chris Nash – 19lb 5oz Barbel – Burton Joyce, River Trent
1.8% of you voted
We were stunned by pictures of Chris Nash’s 19lb 5oz barbel, particularly as it was caught from the day ticket stretch at Burton Joyce, which is best known as a match venue. A big bunch of maggots were his winning hookbait.
Andy Oxley – 3lb 12oz Roach – Yorkshire Stillwater
1% of you voted
The further north specimen anglers live, the trickier it generally gets to catch big fish. But where roach are concerned, the county’s stilwaters are currently a great bet, as Andy Oxley proved with this 3lb 12oz redfin, caught on feeder-fished maggots.
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