Three people standing in shallow water at night hold a very large carp fish horizontally between them. The individuals are wearing waterproof fishing clothing and headwear, including a headlamp. The fish has large golden-brown scales and spans most of the width of the image. The scene is lit by a bright flash against a dark background, with trees and waterside vegetation faintly visible behind them. One person gives a thumbs-up gesture while Ash Hegarty raises a clenched fist.Image source, Ash Hegarty
Image caption,

Ash Hegarty (left) said the carp was like a car tyre in the net

ByNaj Modak and Graham Liver, North West
  • Published4 November 2026

An angler from Lancashire has landed a carp being hailed as a new world record after travelling to a lake in Hungary.

Ash Hegarty, from Blackburn, caught a 52kg (114lb 10oz) common carp and said landing the fish was "indescribable".

Photographs and videos of the catch have been shared widely online, with Hegarty receiving calls from German and Swedish journalists.