A seven-year-old boy left his proud father reeling after catching a whopper on his first ever fishing trip.
Little Rory Fuller was left happy as a clam when he landed a colossal 26lb pike at the first attempt while out with dad James and four-year-old sister Ivie.
Rory used a six-inch Fox Rage lure to tempt the prehistoric beast and brought it to the surface after a 10-minute battle.
James, from Blofield, Norfolk, said: “For me to see that and know he caught it makes me extremely proud.
“He’s been to school and told all his mates.”
And he knew Rory had found a big fish in a small pond.
“We were so lucky to catch one that big. I had only caught a 3lb jack pike there before,” said the 31-year-old offshore oil rig worker.
Armed with a flask of tea and packed lunch from mum Katrina, James took his kids to the lake at Broome Pits, Suffolk, on Tuesday (January 2) where he knew the freshwater monsters could be found.
“When we arrived we walked around the lake and picked a spot we liked the look of.”
Determined Rory waited for almost three hours before he felt something tug the line.
“He cast 20 times or so with a spinner but then he wanted to put the lure on, which looks like a fish,” said James.
“The second time he cast it out he felt something he had not felt before.
“He shouted, ‘Dad, dad’. He said, ‘I think I’ve got something here’.
“Rory took his time and once he realised it was a pike he was extremely excited.
“Once we all got over the shock, we unhooked the fish on the mat and I showed the children how beautiful it was.
“They were amazed with its teeth and the colour of it.”
A passing dog walker stopped and took some photographs of the family with their prize catch and helped them weigh it.
“This was the first pike they’d ever seen and weighing 26lb Rory has set his personal best very high on his first day out,” said James.
“They were overjoyed really. They’re really keen now. They wanted to go again the following day.”
Tom Harbison, owner of Broome Pits, said: “Usually, people tend to catch pikes weighing around eight to 10 pounds here, so to have caught one that big is colossal.
“Any pike more than 20lb is a real achievement, so this one will probably be the biggest to come out of the pits this winter.”
