If you ever wondered what all the fuss is over... this is It..

[oscar]

Originally Posted by Bruv

I am being argumentative I have no problems with fishing, or many forms of hunting.
But jamming a hook into the fleshy mouth part of a struggling fish cannot be humane........especially to an animal lover.

I agree on some fish Bruv as I've seen their mouths so terribly scarred where they have been repeatedly caught in man made lakes, one reason he doesn't like fishing the man made lakes, only rivers. The Barbel is capable if straightening a forged steel hook as happened to Mr O recently. Barbel are like the great White sharks of the river and Mr O has never ever seen one scarred just due to the strength of the fish. Some Carp have far fleshier mouths than others but Barbel do not. Having said that, they are so precious that the experienced guys treat them like new born baby's. Look at the pic again, there is real love for that fish in that guy's eyes.

[oscar]

Originally Posted by Zapata

Wow! That is one huge fish. What did it weigh? I've fished for salmon & halibut in Alaska. I know the 8-9 lb. Silvers put up a good fight. I brought up a 50 lb. halibut once that I thought was going to pull me in!

That specimen was almost 13lb. They only p[ose for a quick pic and then they are very gently put straight back in the water.
It is Illegal here to kill a Barbel or any Carp.
Many years ago, I used to go sea fishing but I never caught a 50lb der.... That would drag me in I remember once the landing of a conger eel went horribly wrong for my nephew and it took a chunk out of his ankle on the deck.

[Odie]

Originally Posted by oscar

As many of you know, Mr O and his pals are Barbel hunters.
Most of the Fuss is due to low numbers of Barbel, the difficulty in getting one hooked and the sheer power and might of the fish when being 'Played' into the net.
Many stories are abound of how these fish fight and Mr O had one recently that got away after It managed to straighten out a forged steel hook.

This Is Mr O's mate who caught this very near record breaker on the banks of The River Avon this morning. This is the fella they have all been after. Click on pic to enlarge.

just clicked on it now.

what did this one weigh? 25/30 lbs?

my god, its huge...awesome catch!

[Kathy Ellen]

Tons of hugs for Mr.O Oscar ((((((((((Mr. O)))))))))

Good on him and hope he catches many, many more elsusive fishes

[Zapata]

Originally Posted by oscar

That specimen was almost 13lb. They only p[ose for a quick pic and then they are very gently put straight back in the water.
It is Illegal here to kill a Barbel or any Carp.
Many years ago, I used to go sea fishing but I never caught a 50lb der.... That would drag me in I remember once the landing of a conger eel went horribly wrong for my nephew and it took a chunk out of his ankle on the deck.

I caught a 13.13 lb Silver in the fishing derby in Seward once & it put up a great fight. Halibut don't fight so much but when they run, you have to reel & reel & reel forever to get them up.

[oscar]

Originally Posted by Zapata

I caught a 13.13 lb Silver in the fishing derby in Seward once & it put up a great fight. Halibut don't fight so much but when they run, you have to reel & reel & reel forever to get them up.

Very similar to Barbel. Once hooked, they run for England. My husband uses a titanium centre pin reel for Barbel due to the running. In the water they are shaped like Torpedo's and just run and run.

Kathy.... It was Pete's mate who caught him in the pic. Pete just wishes