A pike measuring nearly four feet long and estimated to weigh well in excess of 40lb was released unweighed last week because the captor wished to prioritise the fish’s welfare.
Tomas Dojcak was fishing the recent Pike Maniac event on Northamptonshire’s Pitsford Water when he landed the jaw-dropping 119cm-long fish on luretackle, following a near 30-minute tussle.
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He and his boat partner Sebastian Tomaszewski quickly measured the fish, took a few quick photos for posterity, and then promptly returned it.
While it was clear to the pair that the pike had history book potential, they didn’t want to put its health at risk, as Tomas told Angling Times.
“We didn’t have scales or a sling – after all, we never expected to catch a fish of this size,” he said.
“We could have waited for someone from the match to show up with scales, but had we done so, the fish might not have survived. So, we released her quickly, and she swam back strongly to fight another day.”
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Amazingly, the pike was caught on the pair’s debut in not only the Pike Maniac event, but also on Pitsford Water. They finished fifth overall, with Thom Hunt and Kevin Cox winning the event outright.
But it was this big fish and its captors’ selfless actions in returning it swiftly that really stole the show, said event organiser Marcin Szymborski.
“The angling skills and tenacity demonstrated in landing the fish were second to none, but what truly set Tomas and Sebastian apart was their absolute commitment to sustainable fishing practices,” he said. “Despite the excitement of potentially holding a record-breaker, Tomas chose not to bring the fish to shore for weighing, knowing it would place unnecessary stress on the magnificent creature.
“We estimate its weight to be between 42 and 44 pounds – it was certainly over 40lb.”
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