A MONSTER carp – at 28lb believed to be the biggest ever taken in the Forest of Dean – has come from the newly-developed King's Pond at Forest Green Golf Club.
Delighted captor John Turley of Joy's Green, who took the superb common carp on a flavoured boilie bait, told the Review: "I knew when I hooked it that it was a good fish because it moved off very slowly.
"It took me about 20 minutes to bring it within sight of the bank, then it was really difficult to get it the last few yards to the net.
"I believe the previous best fish came from Cannop ponds and weighed just over 27lb, so this one tops that – that was a mirror carp, so I am sure this is the Forest's best common carp."
John praised the development of the new lake which he said was a credit to Forest Hills, which is planning a big match at the venue on Saturday.
"I'll be there," said John. "I'm not telling the flavour of the bait until after the match, just in case!"
The keen angler also took two other fish in the Sunday session, both commons weighing 10lb 12oz and 7lb 4oz.
"You really have to cast around for them because they don't move about much in the colder weather," he said. "It's a matter of trying one area, waiting for a bit, then having a look somewhere else."
Somewhere else in the pool is a carp of 30lb plus which went in when the pool was stocked four months ago – there's a bounty of £50 for anyone who lands the big fish during the competition.