Peter Rees, a local from Wales, is believed to have broken the record for the biggest carp caught in Wales. Even though Wales doesn’t have a specific record for carp, the biggest fish to have come from the country was a mirror, which weighed 49lbs. Now, the new record is 49lb 15oz, with the fish caught from the Llyn Cae Ty Nant Fishery, near Tregaron.
A Memorable Catch for the Local Fishermen
For Peter Rees, this was a very memorable catch. He’d been fishing in the area for three years and didn’t get a lot of time on the bank. Even though the location is a tricky place to fish, that hasn’t stopped him from giving it a go. He had a two-day session and felt good that he’d managed to reel in such a specimen.
Catching carp might not be difficult, but you do need to make sure that you have a specific strategy when fishing in their waters, as not only are they easily spooked, but they are also very intelligent creatures. What’s more, carp change their habits as the day goes on. This worked out well for Peter Rees, as he’d spent so long on the lake that he was able to figure out their patterns to the point of bagging himself the record. Now, Wales is gearing up for a boost to its fishing industry and tourism, meaning such sporting prowess may find fierce competition before long.
More People are Gravitating Towards Fishing
As time goes on, it’s very clear that more and more people are gravitating towards fishing. The danger of overfishing and irresponsible angling by amateurs therefore continues to loom overhead, which makes records like that of Peter Rees even more remarkable when they do occur.
This surge in popularity is surprising as well, given the recent spike in fishing rod license prices. In 2023, you could get a 12-month license, covering up to two rods for catching non-migratory trout, for £33. Now, however, as of April 2025, you’re looking at £36.06 for the same license. In all likelihood, we can only expect the prices to increase even further down the line. In 2019, the number of rod licenses in the country stood at 882,989, with the 2025 figure standing at 934,000.
Roughly 3 in 10 people have been said to find fishing appealing as a pastime, and modern media has a huge part to play in that statistic. UK influencers, like Hannah Barron, or The Catfish Girl, have amassed well over 1.7 million Instagram followers, which is helping to highlight the appeal of fishing for younger people. Together with shows like The Salt Strong Fishing Podcast, hosted by Joe Simonds, these new outlets are bolstering the fishing scene by not only providing entertainment but valuable hints and tips for budding anglers.
Furthermore, fishing is a prominent theme on UK slots online today, with Big Catch Even Bigger Bass 3 and Epic Fish: Marlin Madness being two standout titles. Modern sites can have dozens of fishing games to choose from along with a dedicated category page for browsing them.
With fishing popping up in so many disparate places in our contemporary lives, it’s therefore not hard to see why the sport continues to grow and grow, and people like Peter Rees keep upping the ante for aspiring anglers just getting started. So, even though this is a major achievement for Rees, it would not be surprising to see even more people flock to the lake soon in hopes of reeling in an even bigger catch.