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An angler has smashed the record for the biggest fish ever caught from British shores - a whopping skate weighing more than a GORILLA.

Chuffed Daniel Bennett, 26, snared the massive beast with a rod and line off the Isle of Skye after a TWO-HOUR battle to bring it ashore.

(Image: whitbyseaanglers / SWNS)

At 208lbs, the fish weighs more than a female gorilla, a heavyweight boxer or a road legal moped.

A spokesman for the British Record Fish Committee confirmed it is the largest fish recorded as being caught on its current record list.

(Image: whitbyseaanglers / SWNS)

Daniel, of Whitby, North Yorks., said: "The key to catching the fish was having a lot of patience. My back is absolutely killing me now though.

"We've never caught anything on that scale before, and we guessed it weighed about 150lb. But it was 208lbs. I can't believe it."

The skate, a rare protected fish species that looks similar to a stingray, fell for a bait of half a mackerel fillet.

It measured a whopping 88.25in long by 66.75in wide but hasn't supplied Daniel with a feast of fish - as he tossed it back into the sea.

(Image: whitbyseaanglers / SWNS)

The largest fish caught from British shores before it was a 159lb skate which was reeled in on the Isle of Lewis in 1994.

Those anglers have become "local celebrities" on Skye but Daniel - who works in a fishing supplies shop - says his girlfriend, Philippa, is not quite as impressed.

He said: "My partner is not really that interested, but she's proud of me nonetheless. I think people outside the angling world find it harder to see how much of a feat this is.

"West Scotland is known for skate fishing but not Skye. We were the first to catch one there for at least 30 or 40 years.

"There was another chap in our group who caught one and it was about 120lb. We thought we'd never find one any bigger - then we did an hour later."

How the monster fish compares

Nick Simmonds, secretary of the British Record Fish Committee, said: "There is not a larger fish recorded as being caught on our current record list.

"Once we receive pictures from Dan we will pass them on to our scientist who will check the images and hopefully confirm the unofficial record.

"It can't be confirmed as a record as it was not weighed at the scene.

"It will be seriously considered for the Notable Fish List, which was created for situations like this where the fish cannot be weighed.

"This list is historically important, at least in the angling world."