A British visitor's fishing trip to Mequinenza ended with a catch that has caused a stir: a catfish that reached 9 feet 9 inches long and an estimated weight of Libras 258, an unusual size even in waters with a reputation for giants.
The 30-year-old fisherman and excavator operator was sharing the shore with four friends from Carlisle on a five-day getaway when an unexpected pull changed his day. Under the guidance of Monster Catfishing Tours, a company run by Peter Irwin (44), the catch resulted in a capture that the guide himself considers river record.
The day and the first pull
It all started on Thursday night, when the rod suddenly bent. At first, the angler wasn't sure what had hooked on the other end of the line; the fish's push was so sudden that at times it seemed as if it would pull him towards the Segre Delta.
With their gear tested and adrenaline pumping, the group acted calmly: while one held the rod, others helped maintain tension and control. The angler later admitted that at times he felt short of breath from the effort, a fight that lasted nearly 30 minutes without concessions.
The fight, the landing and the verification
With the fish already close to the shore, the team improvised a toboggan to slide it safely out of the water. The coordinated and unhurried maneuver culminated around 21:30, when they managed to tow it to the shore and stabilize it without damage.
Once controlled, they took measurements and weight: the specimen reached 9 feet 9 inches and marked 258 pounds, dimensions that place it among the great European colossiThe guide, Peter Irwin, explained that giants are not rare in this section, but he stressed that the piece is considered the most outstanding capture recorded in the river.
- Approximate length: 9 feet 9 inches
- Approximate weight: 258 pounds
- Stage: Mequinenza (Segre Delta)
- Duration of the fight: unos 30 minutes
A record that fits into a European map of giants
The Mequinenza case adds to a streak of notable captures on the continent. In 2023, the Italian Alessandro Biancardi made the news with a copy of some 9,35 feet, a first-class reference for fans of these large fish.
More recently, two fishermen in Poland extracted from the reservoir of Rybnik a catfish close to nine and a half feet (October 19), while in Moravia A rare albino specimen was documented that would exceed the 2,5 meters and 100 kilograms. Areas such as the Ebro river in Spain or the Volga In Russia they are among the European enclaves with the highest concentration of large specimens.
This type de peces, known in much of Europe as European catfish, are widely distributed and can reach extraordinary sizes when food, suitable habitat, and low pressure come together. The Mequinenza catch fits into that pattern and reinforces the area's reputation as a prime destination for those seeking large catfish.
Beyond the media impact, the protagonists stressed the importance of handling these fish with respect and safe techniques, from the fight to the release, prioritizing the well-being of the specimen and the safety on the shore for fishermen and wildlife.
The story of this day leaves several headlines: a demanding fight, meticulous logistics for landing, and figures that draw attention even in waters famous for their giants; a story that, with a 9-foot-9, 258-pound record, cements Mequinenza as one of the favorite destinations for those dreaming of their fish of a lifetime.
