Angler catches biggest fish in Britain that weighs more than a gorilla
An angler has smashed the record for the biggest fish ever caught in Britain - by landing an enormous skate that weighed more than a gorilla.
Daniel Bennett, 26, spent two hours trying to land the skate with a rod and line after it took the half a mackerel bait off the Isle of Skye.
Weighing in at a whopping 208lbs, the huge fish, which is a protected species, was heavier than a female gorilla and a moped.
Daniel, from Whitby, North Yorks, told the Mirror: "The key to catching the fish was having a lot of patience. My back is absolutely killing me now though.
"We've never caught anything on that scale before, and we guessed it weighed about 150lb. But it was 208lbs. I can't believe it."
The catch was 88.25 inches long by 66.75 inches wide, but it could not be weighed at the scene, so its weight was worked out by the The Shark Trust, based on the measurements of the fish.
Nick Simmonds, secretary of the British Record Fish Committee, told the Daily Mail: "There is not a larger fish recorded as being caught on our current record list.
"Once we receive pictures from Dan we will pass them on to our scientist who will check the images and hopefully confirm the unofficial record.
"It can't be confirmed as a record as it was not weighed at the scene."
But, he added: "It will be seriously considered for the Notable Fish List, which was created for situations like this where the fish cannot be weighed. This list is historically important, at least in the angling world."
After the skate was measured, it was put back in the water.
Back in May, a schoolboy set a record for catching what at the time was called the biggest fish in Britain.
Will Sutton, 14, from Colchester, Essex, landed a giant catfish that was 7ft long and weighed 8 stone 10lb.
He was fishing at the Oakwood Park Lake in Thetford, Norfolk, when he landed his record-breaking catch.
According to the Express, catfish records were suspended by the British Records Fish Committee (BRFC) in 2000 because they are a non-native species.
But, Mike Heylin, chairman of the BRFC, said he thought Will's catch was a new record.
He told the paper: "We don't keep records on catfish catches any more, but at 122lbs Will's catfish catch is five or six pounds heavier than the next biggest catfish.
"It is highly likely it is the biggest fish in Britain - I don't know of any fish that is bigger.
"I'm also positive that no junior angler has ever caught a freshwater fish this big in Britain."
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