One of the world's biggest catfish has been caught by a British angler on Thailand.

Dean McEwan said he had “the fight of his life” reeling in the 30-stone monster Mekong catfish while at the Palm Tree Lagoon Fishery.

The 36-year-old from Renfrewshire in Scotland said it took him an hour-and-half to reel in the critically-endangered animal before three men helped to heave it into a net in order to measure it.

The seven foot whopper weighed in at 30 stone – just over 190 kilograms.

Dean's catch is thought to be the largest catfish snared by a British angler in Thailand.
Dean, from Renfrewshire, spent 90 minutes reeling in his huge catch (
Image:
DeanMcEwan/BNPS)
The fish was released back into the water after being weighed and measured (
Image:
DeanMcEwan/BNPS)

He said in quotes reported by the Daily Mail : “The first time you feel the true power of these fish, you understand why they hold the title of the hardest freshwater fighting fish in the world.

“As soon as it took off I instantly knew it was a big girl. I've captured a few catfish before, so I knew what I was in for.

“There's really nothing you can do with these fish except take back line whenever you get a chance, usually when the fish changes direction. It was really a test of stamina.”

The fish was released safe and well back into the water after an exhausted Dean had posed for a photo.

The fishery is run by British expat Tim Webb and his wife Benchawan.

Tim added: “This is the biggest catfish in the lake and probably in Thailand.

“It is definitely the largest catfish caught by a Brit.”

The Mekong giant catfish is the largest freshwater fish ever recorded, with a nine foot fish weighing over 46 stone being caught in northern Thailand in 2005, according to the Guinness Book of Records.

They were listed as critically endangered by the World Conservation Union in 2003 following a rapid decline in their numbers caused by habitat loss.

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