Record Barbel Ratified as British Fishing Record.

A Barbel caught in November 2024 has been ratified as a British record.

As reported by the Angling Trust, James Crosby caught the record-breaking fish on the River Lea at King's Weir fishery.

Weighing a whopping 22lb, the Barbel was cemented as a British record by the British Record Fish Committee (BRFC) on the 23rd of June. Now ratified, James's catch is the largest Barbel to be caught in Britain.

In comparison, an average Barbel in the UK averages around 6-10lb and 20-35 inches in length. At over 22lb, the impressive Barbel weighs around the same as a mid-size carp, far exceeding its average size.

Known for their hard-fighting nature, Barbel are warriors of the river, battling far harder than other fish such as the common carp. One only knows how hard that 22-pounder fought on the end of the line - congratulations, James, on your new record!