Mike added: "It is [an achievement] from our point of view, but so much has gone on about it [recent record claims] because a small percentage of the angling fraternity don't like it.

"Most anglers couldn't give a monkey's cuss about it, to be fair.

"I don't really know how I feel about it. I'd be quite happy if he was to claim it, or if he doesn't."

The current official British record stands at 68lb 1oz after Dean Fletcher's capture of the now-deceased Parrot from Wasing in Berkshire in January 2016.

Big Rig, another fish that has now died, had topped that weight and even went beyond 70lb but the RH Fisheries Avenue resident was denied an official record due to the high weight at which it was stocked.

Captain Jack is of the same Israeli strain as Big Rig and had not been caught all year until it was captured about a month ago and bottomed out a set of 65lb scales.

"I do think it could go bigger," said Mike.