Amersham woman becomes first female to catch record carp fish

Ria Bignell, 27, from Amersham, was not prepared for the surprise of a lifetime when she went out fishing with her husband last month.

The regular night-time fishing trip to the Waterside Fishery in Chesham turned out into a once in a lifetime experience after a giant common carp weighing 63lbs 11oz (around 28.88kg) bit Ria’s bait.

The wedding photographer said being the first woman in the country to catch a carp fish that size was a “big life achievement.”

She said: “I’ve never held anything that big! And I’ve been to the gym.

“I’m more likely to catch something that big again abroad.”

Ria with the record-breaking carp fish she named Big Common (Image: Ria Bignell)

Her Cyprinus carpio, better known as European carp or common carp, is the second largest carp caught in the UK and the largest caught by a female fisher.

The biggest ever carp weighing 68lbs 1oz was caught by Dean Fletcher in 2016 at the Cranwells Lake in Berkshire. 

Ria spent almost 30 minutes patiently reeling the fish in shortly after midnight on June 6. 

“I thought it was a 30 pound because big fish don’t normally put up a fight unless it’s daytime and in the daytime you can see them, but in the pitch dark you can’t see under the water,” she said.

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The carp, named as Big Common, put up a “good enough fight,” Ria said.

“It was the longest fight I’ve ever had.

“I didn’t know until I saw it and the head was humongous,” she said.

Lee, Ria’s husband, helped her to lift the fish for quick photos of the historical moment before Big Common was released back to the water alive.

She always releases her catch and she doesn’t like the taste of fish, Ria admitted.

Ria gave Big Common a huge kiss before it was released back into the lake and Ria called her mother-in-law to celebrate (Image: Ria Bignell)

Her previous personal best was a fish weighing 32lbs caught from the same lake.

“I might have been the last person to catch it, there’s no life expectancy on a fish, you don’t know what’s on the end of your line,” she said. 

Catching the record-breaking fish so near her doorstep in Amersham made the achievement extra sweet.

Ria was introduced the world of fishing through her dad and grandparents as a young child, but she got more into the sport after meeting Lee around seven years ago, who taught her how to put on her own bait.

“It’s more of a sport for my mental health, it’s the best therapy. It was like a little holiday but ended up catching the gold prize!”

She hopes news of her achievement will encourage more women to take up the sport,

“People think it’s a sexist game and just for men. But as soon as a woman comes out it shows it’s for everyone and it suits people with disabilities too,” she added.