A Yorkshire angler believes he has caught the largest minnow ever seen in Britain, but a technicality has denied him the record. Charlie Willerton, 44, landed the fish, measuring 109mm (4.2in)—roughly twice the average size—while fishing on the River Rye near his home in Sutton upon Derwent, East Yorkshire.
Willerton, a father of two and fishing enthusiast of over 30 years, described the catch as a 'monster'. He said: 'I've been a fisherman for more than 30 years and have never seen anything like it. It was a fat thing, so there's a good chance it was bigger as well.' However, he was unable to weigh the fish before returning it to the water, preventing official recognition.
The current record for the heaviest minnow stands at 24g (less than an ounce), caught by Jim Sawyer, 54, near Spennymoor, County Durham, in 1998. David Rowe of the British Records Fish Committee confirmed that Willerton's catch cannot be considered a record due to the lack of a witness, signed affidavit, and accurate scales.
Willerton, a phone engineer, was enjoying a sandwich on the riverbank when he felt a tug on his line. Initially assuming it was a gudgeon, he was astonished when he saw the size of the fish. Despite missing out on the record, he remains proud of his catch, which he estimates is about 2.5cm longer than the current record holder.
