A fisherman who made international headlines after catching a monster 2.68-metre catfish is now back in the news after netting one that was even bigger.
Jakub Vagner, 43, made the monstrous 2.72 metres catch in the Czech Republic and proudly announced it on his social media on 16th August. It is the largest catfish ever caught from a body of water in the country.
He had previously caught a 2.68-metre catfish just two weeks earlier.
Vagner said he had waited 35 years for the moment and described it as a milestone in his career.
He said the fish was the first he had ever caught over 2.70 metres.
The professional angler, known from TV series such as ‘Fish Warrior’ and ‘Big Fish Man’, said such a length was extremely rare even in countries like Spain, Italy, or France.
He battled the fish for around 30 minutes with the help of a colleague and estimated it weighed about 130 kilogrammes (286 lbs).
Jakub Vagner, 43, shows the 2.72-meter-long fish he caught in Czech Republic, undated. He improved his previous record of 2.68 meters from this summer. Note: Private photo taken from social media. (Jakub Vagner/Newsflash/NX)
Images show Vagner with his team hauling the giant fish from the shallows to record its length with a measuring tape. Four men lifted it from the water for photographs.
Vagner said catching big fish is "not just about passion… it's about morale, dedication and determination."
Jakub Vagner, 43, shows the 2.72-meter-long fish he caught in Czech Republic, undated. He improved his previous record of 2.68 meters from this summer. Note: Private photo taken from social media. (Jakub Vagner/Newsflash/NX)
He has insisted that he never kills the fish he catches, saying he always releases them back into the water so they can continue to grow. As a result, after documenting the catch, he released the catfish back into the water.
When he landed the 2.68-metre catfish earlier in the summer, he described it as "not only long, but also brutally tall and broad… a beautiful, almost flawless fish with the potential to grow even bigger."