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Top 10 UK Record Carp Contenders (2019–2026): Giants That Almost Broke the British Record
Carp Social | Feature Date: 19th October 2019
Updated: 1st June 2026
UK Carp Fishing’s Modern Giants: Record-Class Carp Caught from 2019 to 2026
The British carp record — 68lb 1oz “The Parrot” (Wasing Estate, 2016 – Dean Fletcher) — has remained untouched for almost a decade.
But between 2019 and 2026, UK waters have produced a series of genuine record-class carp, including fish that have either matched, narrowly missed, or exceeded the benchmark without official ratification.
Here are the ten most significant British record carp contenders of the modern era, based on verified captures and widely reported big-fish milestones.
1. Waterside Common – Buckinghamshire (2023–2026)
No single carp has dominated the modern British record conversation quite like the Waterside Common.
This extraordinary fish has been captured multiple times in recent years, steadily pushing the boundaries of UK carp weights and repeatedly entering record territory.
- 2023 | 63lb 12oz: Caught by Darren Zimmerman, marking the fish’s entry into major benchmark territory.
- April 2024 | 66lb 8oz: Landed by fishery bailiff Kieran Duff, firmly setting a new top weight for a UK common carp.
- May 2024 | 68lb 0oz: Banked by Chris Lines during a warm weather session, falling just (1oz) short of the British record.
- February 2026 | 68lb 0oz: Caught by George Benos, once again matching the largest recorded weight for the fish and reaffirming its record-class status.
- April 2026 | 68lb 8oz: Banked by Mike Nixon on a lake-exclusive session, eclipsing the long-standing 68lb 1oz British record set by The Parrot in 2016.
Across multiple captors and seasons, Waterside Common has become the defining modern example of a “floating record carp” — a fish that has repeatedly operated at, and in some cases beyond, official British record weight.
Despite this, its status remains unratified, ensuring its place in UK angling folklore as one of the most significant carp ever produced in British waters.
2. Moonscale – VS Fisheries (2013–2025)
One of the most consistently tracked modern UK carp, Moonscale represents a rare example of a long-term growth fish progressing steadily through every major weight milestone, eventually entering genuine British record territory.
Originally stocked as a small C4 mirror carp from the Harrow bloodline, the fish has developed into one of the most talked-about big carp in the country.
- 2013 | 11lb–12lb 4oz: Stocked into the Kent gravel pit as an 11lb 4oz, 4-summer (C4) male mirror carp from the Harrow bloodline.
- Late 2019 | 42lb 8oz: First major breakthrough as it exceeded 40lb, landed by Nathan Gray.
- 2022 | 50lb+: Officially became a club record fish after surpassing the 50lb barrier.
- July 2023 | 53lb 2oz: Landed by Roy Cansdale during a full supermoon session.
- October 2024 | 63lb 6oz: Captured by Luke Anderson, becoming the first publicly acknowledged 60lb+ carp from VS Fisheries.
- September 2025 | 65lb 11oz: Banked by Charlie Benson, setting a new venue record weight.
- December 2025 | 68lb 0oz: Landed by angling legend Martin Locke during a memorable Christmas session, placing the fish just 1oz under the British record threshold.
Across more than a decade of documented growth, Moonscale has become one of the clearest examples of a true UK record-class carp in progression, steadily climbing through every major milestone from double figures to the edge of British record status.
3. Grenville Lake Mirror – 64lb 5oz (Grenville Lake, Cambridgeshire)
Stu Saunders’ capture of a 64lb 5oz mirror carp from Grenville Lake in July 2024 is one of the standout moments on the modern UK big-carp circuit.
Banking the colossal mirror, a well-known resident famously referred to as “Green 365”, firmly established the fish as one of the lake’s most iconic captures.
The fishery itself — a 72-acre gravel pit in Cambridgeshire — has built a strong reputation for producing exceptional carp, with multiple 50lb+ fish and a growing number of 60lb-class specimens.
Stu’s capture not only marked a personal milestone but also reinforced Grenville Lake’s status as one of Britain’s premier venues for genuinely large carp, capable of producing fish that sit comfortably within British record conversation.
4. Holme Fen 71lb Mirror (Martyn Lowe) – Cambridgeshire
Holme Fen Fishery has produced multiple giant carp, but the most widely reported 71lb class mirror carp capture is attributed to Martyn Lowe in October 2019.
Date: 17th October 2019
Angler: Martyn Lowe
Weight: 71lb
Venue: Holme Fen Fishery, Cambridgeshire
Status: Unclaimed / not submitted for BRFC record consideration
This fish is frequently referenced in “British record contender” discussions, but it remains unratified due to the angler not pursuing a formal claim.
5. Holme Fen - Captain Jack – 69lb 10oz Cambridgshire
“Captain Jack” is a different carp entirely from the 71lb fish above, despite both coming from the same venue.
- Name: Captain Jack
- Peak reported weight: 69lb 10oz (later reports suggest growth beyond this, but unclaimed)
- Venue: Holme Fen Fishery, Cambridgeshire
- Notable capture claim: 2016–2018 period (various captures and claims)
- BRFC status: Rejected / unratified record claim
Why was it rejected?…
- Imported stock fish history
- High artificial feeding regime (pellet input cited in reporting)
- BRFC eligibility rules regarding “British record” criteria
Key point: Captain Jack was never a 71lb fish in the verified record narrative — it is a separate, earlier “record contender” fish around the high-60lb range.
6. RH Fisheries Complex – Shropshire (Monument One)
Monument One – “The Kraken”
- Capture date: February 2026
- Weight: 63lb 8oz
- Angler: Kieron Hawkins
- Venue: Monument One, RH Fisheries Complex (Shropshire)
This capture came during a late-winter session in 2026, when improving conditions produced a run of exceptional fish across the complex.
The fish has since been reported to have peaked beyond 64lb+, confirming its status as a true upper-tier UK carp.
7. RH Fisheries Complex – Shropshire (The Avenue)
The Avenue – “Sweet Cheeks”
- Capture date: Late 2023 – early 2024 period (reported peak capture window)
- Weight: 70lb 4oz
- Angler: Reported RH Fisheries visiting angler (commonly cited in coverage as part of venue history)
- Venue: The Avenue, RH Fisheries (Shropshire system)
This fish is widely referenced as one of the largest carp ever reported from an English fishery, and became a landmark specimen within the RH Fisheries portfolio.
8. Big Plated – Wingham (Kent) | 83lb+ Spawn-Bound Giant
The infamous “Big Plated” from Wingham Fishery in Kent remains one of the most controversial heavyweight carp ever reported in the UK record conversation. During the late-2017 period, the fish was said to have been caught at a staggering 83lb 4oz, placing it well beyond the official British record threshold at the time. However, the capture was widely regarded as spawn-bound, with the fish carrying significant additional weight due to breeding condition, and it was therefore not submitted for British Record Fish Committee consideration. Despite its extraordinary size, the claim was never ratified, and the capture has since become a key reference point in discussions around how seasonal condition and verification rules impact record eligibility. Today, Big Plated is remembered less as an official record contender and more as a symbol of the fine margins that separate true record carp from unratified giants in modern UK angling history.
9. Black Spot who's topped 65lb. – Wingham (Kent)
One of the standout fish from the renowned Wingham Carp Lake in Kent, “Black Spot” has firmly established itself as a genuine UK record-class carp contender after surpassing the 65lb barrier. This heavily built mirror is part of Wingham’s elite low-stock, high-growth environment, where carefully managed British-bred carp are allowed to reach exceptional sizes in near-natural conditions. Known for producing multiple 50lb+ fish and several confirmed 60lb+ residents, Wingham has become one of the most respected big-carp syndicates in the country. Black Spot sits at the very top tier of that stock, representing the upper limit of what modern UK gravel pit carp can achieve under controlled, long-term growth conditions. Its capture history and continued appearances at extreme weights have made it one of the most discussed and closely watched fish in the British carp fishing scene.
- First major public “headline” captures: around 2022–2023 era (low 60s recorded range)
- Notable media capture reports: 2023–2024 (around 60–60½lb appearances)
- Current recognised status: 65lb+ fish in Wingham Carp Lake stock profile
10. The Big Fully (“Lord of the Manor”) – Manor Carp Fishery (UK Fully Scaled Carp)
The legendary Big Fully, officially known as “The Lord of the Manor”, is widely regarded as one of the most iconic fully scaled mirror carp ever produced in the UK. Its rapid and consistent growth across successive captures at The Manor Carp Fishery cemented its status as a genuine “record-class” specimen and one of the most heavily targeted carp in modern British angling.
Chronological Capture History
Late 2023 | Lee Morris
- Weight: Upper-50lb region (approx. 60lb 8oz)
- The fish first gained major attention when renowned angler Lee “Mozza” Morris banked it during a high-profile session.
- This capture established the fish as a serious UK specimen target and marked its emergence into elite carp fishing discussion.
February 2024 | Nicky Mills
- Weight: 63lb 14oz (Fishery & Hampshire county record)
- Tactics: Ronnie rig with Milky Malt pop-up over a heavy mix of 8mm Bug and Switch boilies, Crayfish pellets, and Switch liquid food.
- This capture officially set the fish’s peak recorded weight at the time, confirming its progression into true UK record-class territory.
October 2024 | Darrell Peck
- Weight: 63lb 8oz
- Tactics: Two-week exclusive session involving raking dense weed beds to create clean feeding areas. He then fished a hinge stiff rig over a heavy baited area of 10mm Mainline ISO Fish boilies.
- The session also produced multiple other large fish, including “Linda the Linear” and “The Lady” (both 40lb+), underlining the lake’s extraordinary stock.
October 2024 | Jeroen Neef
- Weight: Low 60lb region
- Shortly after Peck’s session, Dutch angler Jeroen Neef landed the Big Fully during a second consecutive October hit, timed around a full moon period.
- The capture reinforced the fish’s reputation for consistent appearances during peak feeding windows.
Final Thoughts...
For anglers dreaming of tangling with truly giant carp, the reality is that waiting lists for UK syndicates and record-class waters can stretch years into the future — and even then, there’s no guarantee you’ll ever get a chance at a true 60 or 70lb fish. That’s where carp fishing holidays in France come into their own. With purpose-built big-carp venues, well-managed stock, and consistent opportunities at fish of exceptional size, anglers can fast-track their chances of landing lifetime targets. If you’re ready to step away from the waiting lists and experience real shots at giant carp, explore the range of carp fishing holidays in France available to book through Carp Social — and make the dream a reality.
Compiled by Carp Social | Originally Published: October 2019 | Updated June 2026
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