A Co Antrim fisherman has caught the biggest wild brown trout to be pulled out of a UK river - an 11lb beast FIVE times the average size.
Barry McGuigan, 35, was night fishing at a regular spot with friends Rory White, 20, and Neilson Wilson, 28, when he pulled the specimen from the water.
The fish weighed at 11lb and was 31inches in length - a rare size and weight for a fish of its kind in its natural habitat.
In fresh water rivers, these species of trout are usually between seven to 14 inches long and weigh an average of 2.2lb.
Barber Barry made the catch in Six Mile Water, Antrim and put the fish back into the river after posing for a photo.
Pal Neilson also achieved his personal best on the same night, catching a 9lb Dollaghon Trout.
The group have put their success down to a new fly created by Barry and his friend Derek Bell Jr, 40, which they’ve nicknamed The Batman.
Barry, who has been fishing for 15 years, said: “We fish all night and cast our rods thousands of times, but often we won’t even get a touch.
“These type of fish are extremely tricky to catch as they are very easily spooked.
“I couldn’t believe it when I pulled it out, the weight on my fishing rod was almost too much to bear.
“To catch such a massive a fish of this species is unbelievably rare in this type of habitat, and there hasn’t been a bigger fresh water brownie caught in over 30 years.
“I can’t take all the credit though because my fellow angler Derek was the man who tied the fly which is bringing us so much success lately.
“I named it ‘The Batman’ because when Derek showed it to me in the moonlight its dark colours are similar to that of those from the batman show in the 80’s.
“There are only a handful of flies that work in the river and catch fish, and they are all really old.
“This was created just last year and has been lifting fish flat out the water ever since.”
Barry, from Antrim, made the catch at 2am on July 12.
