A fisherman has managed to catch a massive 9ft-long catfish after battling with the beast for nearly an hour.
Jakub Vagner, 43, made the catch in the Vranov Reservoir, south of Prague, Czech Republic, on August 4, and said he released the huge fish back into the water after photographing it.
Pictures show the TV fisherman and professional angler standing in the shallows with the massive catfish, holding its huge head beside his own.
Vagner said he first spotted the fish in the early morning light while drifting past a rocky overhang.
He cast his custom-made rod towards it and waited.
‘Ten minutes passed and nothing happened. Suddenly, it turned and went straight into my trap.’
What followed was, in his words, ‘the hardest battle I have ever had with a catfish in the Czech Republic.’
He said he could barely hold the rod and called a friend for help before finally dragging it to shore.
‘After almost 50 minutes, it was lying half-tired next to my boat. I was shaking, completely done.’
Measuring 8.79 feet long, the fish was, he said, ‘not only long, but also brutally tall and broad… a beautiful, almost flawless fish with the potential to grow even bigger.’
Vagner said catching big fish is ‘not just about passion… it’s about morale, dedication and determination’, and he never kills the fish he catches, hoping this one will continue to grow.
