Basildon angler Rob Mayes had pal Mark Acton to thank for the superb 24lb 8oz personal best mirror carp he landed at Northlands Park Lake.
Not only had he borrowed Acton's gear but he was using his homemade boilies as well.
The carp, known as "the caesarian" due to a scar on its stomach, is one that Rob has been targeting for the last few months.
It is believed to be the fourth biggest carp in the lake, and is growing rapidly having put on nearly 3lb in the last year.
The last time it appeared on the bank was in June when Rob Skinner caught it at 22lb 8oz.
Mayes caught the fish from the South Eastern corner of the road lake after losing a tench on his previous cast. Rather than re-cast into open water Rob lowered the single boilie bait and a three boilie stringer into the margins about 15 yards along the bank.
A couple of hours later the fish picked up the hook bait, fighting doggedly all the way to the net.
The big carp was the latest in a line of 20-pounders Mayes has taken at Northlands Park, this one equalling the weight of his personal best common taken at the water last year.
Billericay's Lake Meadows continues to produce some excellent carp, with Vange angler Billy Fenlon taking fish of 16lb and 21lb from the houses bank.
Fenlon fished Nash Scopex boilies, casting them to the island. His first run produced a common of 16lb, equalling his previous personal best.
Better was to come when his next run saw the 21lb mirror smash his personal best by 5lb. numerous tench and was broken by a number of other big carp.
Published Thursday, April 10, 2003
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