Latest news with #DavidKnock
BBC News
14-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Giant carp angler spent 18 months preparing for 'surreal' catch
An angler who caught a massive 105lb (47.5kg) common carp said 18 months of preparation went into the "surreal" Knock, an insurance broker from Billericay, Essex, was on holiday with friends at Euro Aqua carp farm in Hungary when he made the heavyweight catch, which has been described as a world record."You couldn't dream it, it was unbelievable," he told the Knock said he had trained in local fields near his home and practised long-range fishing using new reels, new rods and a corner flag "from the old football days", to develop his technique for "hours and hours". The carp, which weighed the equivalent of a 13-year-old child, is said by fishing publication Angling Times to have beaten the previous world record by 1lb (450g).Mr Knock said it was 1.2m (47in) in length and 42cm (17in) wide."It was a proper effort it took to get it up to the cameras and I only held it for a few seconds initially, because the actual shock of holding it was immense," he added."I've never felt anything like it. It's like holding up a 50kg bag of cement - you can't hold it at arm's length. "I cuddled that carp." Mr Knock said his son had remarked: "Well you've completed carp fishing now, what are you going to do?""I said to him, 'I absolutely haven't'. Some are lovely looking, some are harder to catch," Mr Knock laughed."There's still room for improvement, albeit very unlikely." Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Telegraph
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Insurance broker catches world's largest carp
An insurance broker from Essex has reeled in a world record-breaking common carp while on holiday in Hungary. David Knock was left shaking and close to tears during a 20-minute battle with the fish, which weighed almost as much as a teenage boy. The Billericay angler's 105lb common carp beat the existing record for the species by almost 1lb. The 53-year-old, on holiday with his friend Russ Bryant, lured the 8st freshwater fish at the Euro Aqua fishery in Lake Balaton, western Hungary, using maggots as bait. Mr Knock said: 'As soon as I saw it on the surface I just said, 'Oh my God'. I looked at my mate Russ and just started shaking and my legs were going mainly because I was terrified of losing it. 'I tried not to reel it in too fast. As it got closer, Russ said he wasn't sure it was going to fit in the landing net. It felt so heavy to lift up for the photographs and the weighing, it took a hell of an effort.' Mr Knock explained he was in a state of disbelief after hearing he had set a new record, and was so shocked that he tried to call his wife Debbie back at home but was unable to speak. He added: 'She asked me if I was OK, and Russ had to take the phone and explain. I shed a tear or two. For me, it is better than winning the lottery.' After returning the carp safely to the lake, Mr Knock celebrated his catch with a drink in the clubhouse. Jacqueline Horvath, who owns the carp farm with her partner Michel Schoenmakers, said: 'It is our passion to be with our fishermen and share moments like this and break records.' In Britain, carp are not so big. A record-breaking 44lb-er was landed by renowned angler and author Richard Walker in Bernithan Pool, near Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, in 1952. The catch is considered the single most important event in carp-fishing history and paved the way for modern-day angling. Named Clarissa, it went on to live at London Zoo Aquarium until 1972. The record stood for 28 years until a fish weighing 51½lb was caught at the same location.
The Sun
07-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Angler catches world's biggest carp weighing almost EIGHT STONE and is left ‘in total disbelief'
AN ANGLER was left in "total disbelief" after he caught the world's biggest carp. The massive fish weighed an astonishing EIGHT STONE and was reeled in by Brit David Knock. 3 3 Knock was fishing in Euro Aqua in Hungary when he pulled off the monstrous catch. The fishing club is located on Lake Balaton near Nemesvita and is renowned for its big fish. Knock arrived with the aim of beating his previous record of a 56lb fish that he caught at Brittany Mills in France. He was left shocked when he managed to reel in the 105.4lb carp. A post about the catch was shared on Facebook, which Knock reacted to. He wrote: "It really was a dream come true, best moment in all my many years fishing." The giant fish came after he had already managed to catch an 80lb carp during the trip with his pal Russ Bryant. Speaking to the Angling Times, he said: "The trip was planned 18 months previously and I had been excited to visit the venue. "There's really nowhere else that compares when it comes to big carp fishing. "The anticipation that the next fish to take your bait could be over 100lb is hard to explain." Question of Sport's Phil Tufnell backs new wellbeing campaign to get people fishing 3 Knock also admitted that he had a "meltdown" when he realised the size of the carp. He was also left in "total disbelief" that he had caught it and that he had set a record. He added: "It was absolutely massive, and I just went into meltdown. "I'm so glad Russ was on hand to keep me composed. "'It won't go in the net,' were the words I heard Russ mutter, but thankfully, we managed to shuffle it in. "As per protocol, we called the owner, and thankfully, they came round quickly to help with the weighing. "By this point, I was in complete shock, with everything that followed becoming a bit of a blur. "We weighed the fish, and read out 47.8kg, exclaiming it was a record. I was in total disbelief that I'd actually caught it." Knock was sent many congratulatory messages on the catch as it was released back into the water. The average common carp usually weighs between 0.5 stone and 4.5 stone and can measure between 40 and 80cm.
Scottish Sun
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Angler catches world's biggest carp weighing almost EIGHT STONE and is left ‘in total disbelief'
Protocol was followed after the monster catch REEL IT IN Angler catches world's biggest carp weighing almost EIGHT STONE and is left 'in total disbelief' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN ANGLER was left in "total disbelief" after he caught the world's biggest carp. The massive fish weighed an astonishing EIGHT STONE and was reeled in by Brit David Knock. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Angler David Knock caught a monster carp in Hungary Credit: Facebook / David Knock 3 The fish weighed a monstrous EIGHT STONE Credit: Facebook / David Knock / Euro-Aqua Knock was fishing in Euro Aqua in Hungary when he pulled off the monstrous catch. The fishing club is located on Lake Balaton near Nemesvita and is renowned for its big fish. Knock arrived with the aim of beating his previous record of a 56lb fish that he caught at Brittany Mills in France. He was left shocked when he managed to reel in the 105.4lb carp. READ MORE IN SPORT OFFICIAL TALK PSG vs Arsenal ref served 6-month ban for match-fixing after accepting bribe A post about the catch was shared on Facebook, which Knock reacted to. He wrote: "It really was a dream come true, best moment in all my many years fishing." The giant fish came after he had already managed to catch an 80lb carp during the trip with his pal Russ Bryant. Speaking to the Angling Times, he said: "The trip was planned 18 months previously and I had been excited to visit the venue. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS "There's really nowhere else that compares when it comes to big carp fishing. "The anticipation that the next fish to take your bait could be over 100lb is hard to explain." Question of Sport's Phil Tufnell backs new wellbeing campaign to get people fishing 3 Knock admitted to being in 'disbelief' after catching it Credit: Facebook / David Knock / Euro-Aqua Knock also admitted that he had a "meltdown" when he realised the size of the carp. He was also left in "total disbelief" that he had caught it and that he had set a record. He added: "It was absolutely massive, and I just went into meltdown. "I'm so glad Russ was on hand to keep me composed. "'It won't go in the net,' were the words I heard Russ mutter, but thankfully, we managed to shuffle it in. "As per protocol, we called the owner, and thankfully, they came round quickly to help with the weighing. "By this point, I was in complete shock, with everything that followed becoming a bit of a blur. "We weighed the fish, and read out 47.8kg, exclaiming it was a record. I was in total disbelief that I'd actually caught it." Knock was sent many congratulatory messages on the catch as it was released back into the water. The average common carp usually weighs between 0.5 stone and 4.5 stone and can measure between 40 and 80cm.
The Irish Sun
07-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Angler catches world's biggest carp weighing almost EIGHT STONE and is left ‘in total disbelief'
AN ANGLER was left in "total disbelief" after he caught the world's biggest carp. The massive fish weighed an astonishing EIGHT STONE and was reeled in by Brit David Knock. 3 Angler David Knock caught a monster carp in Hungary Credit: Facebook / David Knock 3 The fish weighed a monstrous EIGHT STONE Credit: Facebook / David Knock / Euro-Aqua Knock was fishing in Euro Aqua in Hungary when he pulled off the The fishing club is located on Lake Balaton near Nemesvita and is renowned for its big fish. Knock arrived with the aim of beating his previous record of a 56lb fish that he caught at Brittany Mills in France. He was left shocked when he managed to reel in the 105.4lb carp. READ MORE IN SPORT A post about the catch was shared on Facebook, which Knock reacted to. He wrote: "It really was a dream come true, best moment in all my many years fishing." The giant fish came after he had already managed to catch an 80lb carp during the trip with his pal Russ Bryant. Speaking to the The trip was planned 18 months previously and I had been excited to visit the venue . Most read in Other Sports CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS " There's really nowhere else that compares when it comes to big carp fishing . " The anticipation that the next fish to take your bait could be over 100lb is hard to explain ." Question of Sport's Phil Tufnell backs new wellbeing campaign to get people fishing 3 Knock admitted to being in 'disbelief' after catching it Credit: Facebook / David Knock / Euro-Aqua Knock also admitted that he had a "meltdown" when he realised the size of the carp. He was also left in "total disbelief" that he had caught it and that he had set a record. He added: "It was absolutely massive, and I just went into meltdown. "I'm so glad Russ was on hand to keep me composed. "'It won't go in the net,' were the words I heard Russ mutter, but thankfully, we managed to shuffle it in. "As per protocol, we called the owner, and thankfully, they came round quickly to help with the weighing. "By this point, I was in complete shock, with everything that followed becoming a bit of a blur. "We weighed the fish, and read out 47.8kg, exclaiming it was a record. I was in total disbelief that I'd actually caught it." Knock was sent many congratulatory messages on the catch as it was released back into the water. The average common carp usually weighs between 0.5 stone and 4.5 stone and can measure between 40 and 80cm.
