JULIAN Stainer with the fantastic 38lb conger eel that gave him top spot in this month's North Devon League heat.

38lb eel looks set to become new Bristol Channel record.

To send a link to this page to a friend, simply enter their email address below.

The message will include the name and email address you gave us when you signed up.

Email address

  Send link

To send a link to this page to a friend, you must be logged in.

AN outstanding conger eel of 38lb and a potential new Bristol Channel record easily gave Barnstaple angler Julian Stainer victory in the North Devon League sea angling heat at the weekend.

The six foot-plus fish came from a local rock mark on a night when strong winds made fishing conditions less than ideal.

Despite its size, Julian – fishing for Barnstaple Triple Hook - said the large eel did not make a great deal of fuss once he had managed to extract it from the rocks and it was landed relatively easily.

With a specimen rating of 190% it was obviously who had won the January NDL rover, while Dave Brook of Combe martin took second with a good huss of 11lb 10 ½ ounces and Simon Silvester was third with a rockling of 1lb 2 ½.

The next two leagues heats are: February 11/12, weigh in hosted by Rod ‘n’ Reelers at Rolle Quay, Barnstaple; March 24/25, weigh in at Bideford.

Julian’s eel looks likely to become the new Bristol Channel record, beating a previous best of just over 36lb caught in 2008.