A fish of a lifetime has earned predator hunter Justin Grapes a £100 prize in the Evening News Angling Direct Specimen Catch competition.
Hellesdon-based pike fan Justin joined the select band of anglers with a 30lb Esox to their name when he reeled in this superb 30lb 8oz specimen from a Wensum valley syndicate lake.
The Evening News and Angling Direct competition judges have decided not to reveal the exact location of the lake in accordance with Justin's wishes.
'Most big fish anglers like to keep locations quiet because otherwise the fish get a lot of pressure from other anglers and either drop in weight or die,' said the 38-year-old self-employed marine engineer.
He was thrilled with his personal best catch – part of a memorable double which also featured a 21lb 14oz pike. Both fish succumbed to ledgered mackerel deadbaits.
The big fish is the December winner of the competition, earning Justin £100 worth of Angling Direct vouchers.
Andy Flint, manager of Angling Direct's Aylsham Road, Norwich store, is a keen pike fisherman himself.
He congratulated Justin on his catch saying: 'It's the size of pike most anglers will dream of catching and not many do. There aren't that many 30-pounders around. To catch a near 22-pounder as well on the same day is quite an achievement.'
The November winner of the competition is Darran Goldsworthy, who captured a 5lb 8oz chub using classic tactics on a flooded River Wensum at Swanton Morley.
Despite the far-from-ideal conditions, he managed to find a little slack water on the inside of a bend and, using a quivertip, fished a foot out from the bank with hair-rigged luncheon meat.
'This chub gave me a really good fight all the way to the net. I was so pleased as this is my personal best and I can't wait to go again,' said the 32-year-old sales assistant from Dereham.
'Although there are bigger chub in the Wensum, a 5lb fish can still be considered a specimen. Full marks to Darran for getting out there despite the conditions,' said Andy Flint.
Our competition is open to all anglers – coarse, game and sea. Fish must be caught on a Norfolk water, on the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads system or off the Norfolk coast. As well as the £100 prize, there is a £50 monthly prize for the best catch by an angler aged 16 and under.
All entries must be submitted to enspecimencatch@archant.co.uk
Don't forget to attach a picture, preferably as a jpeg.
• To send in your entry - with your picture attached - click the link at the top of this page
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