AN 86lb conger eel taken by Bill Harkness, who lives in Paignton, Devon, could set a new IGFA light line record.
Bill used a 20lb-class Normark Titan 2000 rod and a Shimano TR2000 Charter Special reel, which was loaded with just 15lb breaking strain Trilene line.
The big eel was taken from a mid-Channel wreck during the Torbay Festival, while fishing aboard Dave Harrison’s Brixham-based charter boat ‘Gemini III’. Dave expertly positioned the boat over the wreck on a flooding tide.
The line has been sent to IGFA and is waiting for verification and the eel, which is  pictured in this month’s Total Sea Fishing magazine, also earned Bill membership to the British Conger Club.
The biggest fish of the festival, a superb conger weighing 101lb, was taken by Steve Cook.
Steve, who lives in Middlezoy, Somerset, said: “I have been trying for 15 years to land an eel that would qualify me for membership of the British Conger Club, but I never dreamt that I would do it with an eel of this size!”
Steve was also aboard Gemini III and he is also pictured in this month’s Total Sea Fishing. The conger is thought to be the biggest eel to be brought to the scales during the event’s long history.