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WORLD, BRITISH & EUROPEAN
20 lb LINE CLASS RECORD
CONGER EEL

Wednesday 11th September and local sea angler Bill Harkness from Paignton smashed both the British and European 20lb line class records when he caught an 86 lb Conger Eel during the 2002 Torbay Fishing Festival aboard Dave Harrison's popular charter boat "Gemini" out of Dartmouth.

Dave Harrison (l) & Bill Harkness (r) proudly display 86 lb Conger Eel caught aboard charter boat Gemini out of Dartmouth 11th September 2002 New British & European & World 20 lb line class record

Bill's magnificent fish was also submitted for consideration of the award of the World Record for 20 lb line class.

Bill Harkness with his 86 lb Conger aboard Gemini

Today, 3rd December 2002, I received a 'phone call from Dave Harrison, to let you know that Bill's Conger has been granted to World Record for 10 Kg line class too.

Dave kept up the tally of huge Conger aboard Gemini, when the following day, Steve Cook who hails from near Bridgewater in Somerset, caught another on heavier class tackle which weighed 101 lbs and won Steve the top prize in the Torbay Festival.

Steve Cook proudly displays his 101 lb Conger caught aboard Gemini out of Dartmouth 12th September 2002

Ed: My thanks go to to Brian Coles who kindly Emailed me the above photographs.