Three record-breaking fish caught off Devon coast

Three Devon fishers have broken British records with their catch this summer.

A Couch's sea bream caught near Dartmouth by Peter Kibel measured 59cm (23in), an Atlantic bonito measuring 73cm (28in) was hooked near Ilfracombe and a new sea "mini-species" of Steven's goby found off Plymouth Sound by Chris Scott, weighed 9.33g (0.02lbs), said The Angling Trust - which has ratified the records.

David Kiddy, who caught the Atlantic bonito, said he thought climate change making waters warmer had played a part in bonitos appearing off Devon's coast.

Mr Kiddy said it was a "stroke of good fortune" that he caught the record-breaker and he added "more and more exotic species are turning up all the time."

He added the catch was "such a whopper we had to keep it".

The boat's skipper Dan Hawkins said as soon as he saw the 9.12lb (4.13kg) fish, he thought it might be a record-breaker.

He said: "We had it hanging upside down in the fridge and Dan said 'don't cut it'."

Mr Kiddy said he got "dragged around the boat and caught up with a few of the other anglers" as he battled to land the fish.

Mr Kiddy caught the bonito using a lure developed by his family fishing firm which it planned to sell.

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