Amateur angler lands UK's 'biggest fish'

Darren Reitz says he needed the help of three friends to reel in the huge catfish

An amateur angler has landed what is believed to be the UK's biggest ever fish caught by rod in freshwater.

Darren Reitz, 34, a binman from Rainham, east London, said "luck" was key to catching the "monster" catfish, which weighed 143lb (64.4kg).

Mr Reitz said it took him and three friends about 50 minutes to reel it in at a fishing lake in Maldon, Essex.

The previous catfish record was set at 130lb (58.9kg) and the British Record (Rod Caught) Fish Committee has encouraged Mr Reitz to get in contact.

• Listen: Angler lands 'UK's biggest fish'

"My wrist is still hurting from reeling," said Mr Reitz. "I wasn't expecting to catch that."

"Three of my friends got into the water with nets because it was that big and I was so worried we would lose it.

"I did not know there were fish of that size here, in Spain or France maybe, not here," he said.

It was about 22:30 BST on Saturday when the fish was hoisted out of the water.

'We started panicking'

Mr Reitz, who started fishing in 2017, said: "I'm an amateur, I go for the peace and quiet and if I catch, I catch.

"This was just luck, I think. My friends were in their tents, and they might have been a bit jealous.

"We started panicking a bit when it came to pulling it out. People were trying to tell me what to do but I didn't listen.

"It was a monster."

The catfish, which has been released, was nicknamed Scar.

Paul Tallowin, co-owner of Chigborough Farm & Fisheries, where the fish was caught, said it might not be the biggest in the lakes.

He said: "The catfish put on about 7lbs (3.2kg) a year, so this one would be about 45 years old. I am sure some are a bit bigger. It all depends on what they have to eat.

"This one is the biggest that has been caught at the moment. Well done for getting it out."