Freshwater record books were rewritten last week when match and specimen fish catches soared to new heights.The Vikings who conquered much of Britain some 10 centuries ago, appear to be fairly active still on the banks of local waters, writes Roy Webster.

Freshwater record books were rewritten last week when match and specimen fish catches soared to new heights.

The Vikings who conquered much of Britain some 10 centuries ago, appear to be fairly active still on

the banks of local waters, writes Roy Webster.

On Sunday members of a Norfolk outfit called the Viking Whalers heaved out gigantic catches from

the prolific Holly Farm Lake at South Walsham.

And while these lads were not actually donning horned helmets for their piscatorial plundering, they certainly arrived armed with some pretty impressive fishing equipment that winched out a total of 914lb of carp among the 14 rod men lined up to break the match records for both club and venue.

The main angler who rewrote the statistics was Michael Moore, who filled several keep nets with 181lb of carp, all around the 4 to 5lb mark. It was he who actually heaved out the venue's previous best of around 175lb last year, then gave up fishing to spend more time with his family.

However, on Sunday club fixture secretary Peter Howes persuaded

the former member to come out of retirement to make an attempt on his own record. He beat it by some 2lb, fishing his own pellet bait mix on a pole rig to take fish constantly.

Fishery boss Gerald Marjoram said he had been told about the massive catches and added: “Our fishery has become one of the most popular match venues in the county because we stock up with the size of fish match anglers like to catch,” he said.

The Sportsmens club visited Colton where the result was G Hunter 66lb, M Bunn 58lb 12oz, I Crabtree 36lb. Great Yarmouth Freshwater AC members enjoyed an excellent day at Metton where a close run event finished with J Mancini 72lb 7oz, K Brown 70lb 12oz, M Mancini 69lb 7oz.

Val Burlton struck a blow for the fairer sex at Topcroft where she won with 39lb 8oz followed by A Austrin 29lb 4oz and A Watson 28lb 5oz.

The Burgh Castle open event was won by Richard Silverwood (Sportsmens) with 16lb 8oz, then D Grimwood (Sensas) 15lb 6oz and K Southey (Jollyboys) 14lb 1oz.

The heaviest carp ever reeled in from the Burgh Castle fishery, formerly known as Greens Pits, was a magnificent personal best for Great Yarmouth rod man David Howes.

His capture was a massive 34lb 8oz common carp tempted on a boillie bait in daylight and witnessed by Jollyboys club secretary Lee Arnold.

The fish, known as Spot because of its distinctive marking, put up a terrific scrap before it was eventually netted and weighed in before being returned to the water none the worse for its experience.

“This fish was truly a superb specimen and David Howes was absolutely thrilled by his personal best catch,” said Arnold.