West Norfolk angler Malcolm Page had to adopt a softly, softly approach when a hefty 28lb mirror carp decided to give him a run for his money on light tackle.

Malcolm, from Pudding Norton, near Fakenham, was using 3lb line and a tiny size 18 hook when the carp took a shine to his red and white maggot bait while he was fishing in the margins of a members-only lake in the area.

'I knew there were some good perch in there but the carp just happened to come along,' said Malcolm, 59, who happily won the tense battle to land his personal best specimen on a 9-foot Shimano Beast Master rod.

Malcolm, who has been freshwater fishing for around seven years, thanked a lifeboatmen at Wells he knows as Fred for photographing the fish.

Malcolm is the latest winner of the Evening News Angling Direct Specimen Catch award.

He reels in a stunning �100 worth of vouchers to be redeemed at the Aylsham Road, Norwich, store.

Andy Flint, Angling Direct Norwich branch manager, congratulated Malcolm on his catch.

'It's a fantastic feat on such light line to land a fish of that size. It must have taken a lot of skill to coax it in.'

Alan Tew burned the midnight oil and reaped his reward on his first session at Felthorpe Lakes with a 19lb 8oz common carp.

The 44-year-old Aylsham angler used sticky bloodworm boilies, casting to an overhanging tree in the far margins, to catch the specimen at 2.30am.

The competition is open to all anglers of all ages, freshwater, sea and game.

Fish must be caught on a Norfolk water, including the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads system, or off the Norfolk coast. Entries need to show a picture of the captor with fish, and include details of the venue, method and date of catch.

As well as the �100 prize for the best entry there is a �50 voucher prize for the best entry by an under 16 angler.

So get catching and get snapping. Your next catch could be worth more than you think.

All entries must be submitted to enspecimencatch@archant.co.uk You can enter via the website or email direct using your mobile device.

Don't forget to attach a picture.

• To send in your entry - with your picture attached - click the link at the top of this page