A budding fisherman has told of the moment he made his biggest-ever catch when he pulled a 40lb 8oz carp from the water. 

Frank Johnson, nine, made the amazing haul while on his first-ever night-time fishing trip with his dad Paul in the New Forest

The schoolboy from Warsash had previously been on fishing trips but had never caught a fish over 18lb before.

So when he wrestled the "colossal" common carp from the lake in late June, he was left "surprised" and "really excited" and has since shared photos of the catch with his friends and family.

Paul and Frank Johnson with the 40lb carp fish in the New ForestPaul and Frank Johnson with the 40lb carp fish in the New Forest (Image: Paul Johnson)

Speaking to the Echo, Frank from Warsash said: "I was just surprised when I caught it because really I’ve never seen a fish that big to be honest.

"We got there and then we got a 20(lb fish) and we slept and we woke up and caught that so it was a pretty cool thing to wake up to to be fair.

"When we caught it it was pretty scary because it was flapping around and it is probably the size of me. 

"I’m not much of a fisherman really. My friends don’t really get it but my family are really excited about it.

"At the lake we went to there is a 60 pounder and if I caught that that would be amazing because my dad’s record is 61 pounds.

"So to pretty much beat my dad who’s been fishing his whole life, at the age of nine, that would be great."

Paul said Frank had been asking to come night fishing for some time but he made a deal with him that he has to learn to swim first in case he accidentally fell in. 

But following this catch, he now hopes this will spark a lifelong love of fishing. 

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He said: "We went down there for the night so that is very nice to do that with my son.

"He did the whole thing himself, he cast it out and put the bait on.

"He got a 22 pounder then we were talking about it and the rod went off again and he caught that massive common.

"I said to him, Frank, this is quite big buddy. I saw it roll a few times and it was a colossal fish. We were absolutely buzzing.

"I have been fishing for 20-odd years. I have friends who are the same and they have not caught a 40lb common."

Paul, 43, has been fishing since he was young and has caught several fish over 40lb before but joked: "If he had broken my personal best I’d have pushed him in."

He added: "It is a really good thing for anyone to get involved in especially kids growing up with social media.

"Fishing is something you can sit down and do together."