The 5 biggest fish ever caught in England (British records 2026)
Everyone has a "biggest fish" story. These five are the ones that made it onto the official list. All five were caught in England and all are current British rod-caught records, checked against the BRFC lists from June 2026.
The top 5 at a glance
| # | Fish | Record weight | Angler | Where | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wels catfish | 150 lb 3 oz (68.12 kg) | Shaun Ing | Chigborough Fisheries, Essex | 2024 |
| 2 | Carp | 68 lb 8 oz (31.07 kg) | Mike Nixon | Waterside Fishery, Chesham, Bucks | 2026 |
| 3 | Pike | 47 lb 5 oz (21.46 kg) | Lloyd Watson | Chew Valley Lake, Somerset | 2024 |
| 4 | Bass (shore) | 19 lb 12 oz (8.96 kg) | John Locker | Portsmouth, Hampshire | 2012 |
| 5 | Perch | 6 lb 3 oz (2.81 kg) | Neil Stephen / Ken Brown (joint) | Crowborough, Sussex / Wilstone, Herts | 2011 |
1. Wels catfish: 150 lb 3 oz
The wels is Europe's biggest freshwater predator and the only fish on this list that can outweigh the angler. They are not native to Britain. They live in a small number of stocked still waters, mostly in the south and east of England. They feed mainly at night, so most big wels are caught in the dark.
2. Carp: 68 lb 8 oz
The carp record is the one that changes most often, because carp are the most targeted big fish in the country and the best-known waters are fished all year round. The current record came out in 2026 from Waterside Fishery in Chesham.
3. Pike: 47 lb 5 oz
Chew Valley Lake in Somerset is famous for big pike, and the current record came from there in 2024. Pike grow this big in clear, food-rich reservoirs where they can feed on stocked trout. They are ambush hunters: they wait in weed, reeds or near sunken trees and strike from cover.
4. Bass: 19 lb 12 oz
The only sea fish in our top five. The shore-caught bass record has stood since 2012 and came from Portsmouth. Bass grow slowly, so a fish this size is many years old.
5. Perch: 6 lb 3 oz
The perch record is shared. Two anglers caught perch of exactly the same weight in 2011, so both are listed. A 6 lb 6 oz perch was reported in 2026 but has not been ratified, so it is not the record yet.
How a fish becomes a British record
A big fish on the bank is not a record until the British Record (Rod Caught) Fish Committee accepts it. The angler needs certified scales, witnesses and clear photos, and the species has to be identified for certain. That is why the list moves slowly, and why "unofficial" giants you see on social media often never make it.
Want to see how other countries compare? Our catch map shows catches from anglers around the world. You can also open Top 5 fish by country on our home page.
Source: British Record (Rod Caught) Fish Committee, coarse and sea fish lists, June 2026 (anglingtrust.net). Records change when new fish are ratified.
FAQ
What is the biggest fish ever caught in the UK?
On rod and line in freshwater, the British record is a wels catfish of 150 lb 3 oz (68.12 kg), caught by Shaun Ing at Chigborough Fisheries, Essex, in 2024. Sea records include much bigger species, such as common skate and tuna.
What is the British record carp?
68 lb 8 oz (31.071 kg), caught by Mike Nixon at Waterside Fishery, Chesham, Buckinghamshire, in 2026.
What is the British record pike?
47 lb 5 oz (21.46 kg), caught by Lloyd Watson at Chew Valley Lake, Somerset, in 2024.
Who decides what counts as a British record?
The British Record (Rod Caught) Fish Committee (BRFC), run with the Angling Trust. A fish has to be weighed on certified scales, witnessed and identified before it is added to the official list.