https://www.foxnews.com/great-outdoors/fisherman-monstrous-trout-river-reportBy Janine Puhak | Fox News
A fisherman has reportedly reeled in a record after hooking what’s said to be the largest-ever wild brown trout caught in a river in Northern Ireland.
Barry Mcguigan was fishing during a recent nighttime angling adventure with friends in the Six Mile Water river in Antrim, Northern Ireland, when he caught an 11-pound, 31-inch wild brown trout, news agency South West News Service (SWNS) reports.
Barry Mcguigan poses with his massive wild brown trout on July 12. (SWNS)
The outlet described the “monstrous specimen” of a catch as “an unbelievably rare size and weight for a fish of its kind in its natural habitat."
Wild brown trout typically weigh an average of 2.2-pounds and measure between seven and 14 inches long in freshwater rivers, SWNS said.
The angler's "monstrous" trout measured 11-pounds and-31 inches. (SWNS)
After posing for a must-have photo, Mcguigan returned the fish to the water.
"We fish all night and cast our rods thousands of times, but often we won't even get a touch,” the angler explained. "These type of fish are extremely tricky to catch as they are very easily spooked.
"I couldn't believe it when I pulled it out, the weight on my fishing rod was almost too much to bear,” Mcguigan continued. "To catch such a massive a fish of this species is unbelievably rare in this type of habitat, and there hasn't been a bigger fresh water brownie caught in over 30 years.”
The proud outdoorsman, who has been fishing for 15 years, caught the creature at 2 a.m. on July 12.
Janine Puhak is an editor for Fox News Lifestyle. Follow her on Twitter at @JaninePuhak
