Record-breaking fish caught off British coast

29.05.2020 09:57

Stunned fishermen landed the world record eel off the coast in Plymouth, Devon.

The 20ft conger – which weighed in at a staggering 131lb (59.5kg) after it was gutted – was caught by commercial fisherman Scott Govier.

It was accidentally snared in the nets of a trawler and a picture of the giant sea monster hanging up was posted on Facebook.

"When we pulled it up I was stunned because it was so huge," Scott, 42, said.

"It was already dead when we pulled it up, or else we would have thrown him back in and let him live.

"It was too much of a magnificent specimen to kill, but as he was already dead it seemed worth bringing him in.

"I don't know how long it was, it was difficult to tell and I never really took any notice."

He added: "It was over 10 foot I would say, his head was resting above our shelter deck.

"It was sold in the Plymouth market.

"Congers aren't worth much these days, but it went for more than I expected."

Fisherman Vic Evans held the previous world record for his Conger Eeel, caught six miles of Brixham, Devon, while fishing from his own vessel Sea Spray.

It was caught on a wreck in 1995 and tipped the scales at 133lbs 4oz before it was gutted.

But the new whopper - with guts - would have weighed about 155lbs to 160lbs.

The conger eel landed at Plymouth Fisheries was caught by the inshore trawler Hope.

The conger made about 70p per KG at auction when it was sold.

Pete Bromley, manager of Plymouth Fisheries, said: "Conger move to very deep water and die after spawning, so like all large congers caught off the South West approaches, this fish is likely to be an unspawned female.

"These large eels are generally found hiding in the many wrecks around the South West, or on reefs and rocky ground, but they do venture out to open ground in search of food, usually during neap tides or slack water.

"Despite their size and power, they are not very strong swimmers."

(dailystar.co.uk)