A friend just sent me a link to a forum post with an image of a huge pike which, if accurate, will be one of the biggest landed this season in the UK.
As far as I can make out – and I apologise to the captor if any of the information is incorrect – the giant essox weighed 42lb 8oz and was caught from Hickling Broad in the Norfolk Broads, East Anglia (UK) by Charlie Bettell, a well-known fishing guide and photographer.
Charlie Bettell's huge Broads pike
I’ve yet to see a confirmed press report of this fantastic fish but I hope all the information is correct and that Charlie (or someone associated with him) has indeed landed what is a truly gigantic specimen and a pike to be immensely proud of.
Maybe this week’s Angling Times will reveal more.
Ben Hervey-Murray - The Hairy Angler 
That is some pike and caught from a houseboat! I see Bettel is getting a lot of grief for releasing the details of the capture.
By: Ben on March 17, 2010
at 09:22
it wasnt actually caught by charlie, he was the person who posted it of a forum and many believe the fish to be a fake, personally i cant see anything wrong with the fish.
have been wrong before though
By: dave on March 17, 2010
at 10:06
Interesting. I can’t see someone with the profile of Charlie Bettell posting a fish he knew or suspected to be fake.
Then again, the photo does look almost too big to be true. But how many people have seen a 40 in the flesh. I hope it is real.
Have to say I disagree with releasing the name of the Broad where it was caught though. Come 16th June it’ll be packed with anglers launching all sorts into the water.
By: benhmurray on March 17, 2010
at 10:42
In the opinion of a good friend and photographer (he was on the staff roster for Getty for years so he knows what’s what) the photo could be genuine:
“assuming you are wondering if the fish has been put in there, i would say no, it is real. but its impossible to say at this res…”
By: benhmurray on March 17, 2010
at 12:19
the only thing thats wrong with pic and could suggest a fake is that thurne pike tend to be quite long with huge heads, just thinking back to the 45lber last year that was a long fish.
hope it is real though but shame about the amount of preassure the thurne system will now get when the circus decends on it.
By: dave on March 17, 2010
at 12:23
I should add a caveat to this: as stated, I assumed the fish was Charlie’s (or someone associated with him) as he posted the pic, so in the absence of further info…
If you know more, please do tell.
By: benhmurray on March 18, 2010
at 00:00
Mystery solved! http://www.gofishing.co.uk/HomePage2/fishingforums/Forum-Landing/Forum-Categories/Topic/?topic-id=22466&message-id=85348&__ia=message85348
Congratulations Craig – looking forward to next week’s AT.
By: benhmurray on March 18, 2010
at 13:21