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Camden New Journal - by DAN CARRIER
Published: 1 November 2007

Miles Macloed with his 32lb carp

Angler reflects on the latest monster mirror
carp catch

A MONSTER mirror carp weighing in at 32lb 4oz has been caught on Hampstead Heath – and become the latest massive fish to be found in the ponds.
Last week, the New Journal reported the netting of a mega 29lb mirror carp in the Hampstead number two pond – but as our picture shows, there are even bigger fish out there.
Former Haverstock school pupil Miles Macleod, 30, who works for Great Ormond Street Hospital contractors Mighty Health and Hygiene, has been fishing on the Heath all his life.
He said: “We used to pull out a few tench and roach, but anglers have noticed the size of the fish and their condition has improved recently.
“We have been pulling out really big bream: some of them are the size of dustbin lids and we call them ‘boo-boo fish’ because they really smell and we have a deal that whoever nets one has to go and buy the other anglers a few cans of lager from the off licence as the stink is so bad.”
He caught this mirror carp on the third Highgate boating pond in June.
The technician fishes regularly on the Heath but has never seen a mirror carp this size before. He said: “I go as often as I can without the wife wanting to divorce me.
“I saw the picture in the Journal last week which John Gulliver called ‘King of the Ponds’, but mine is even bigger. I had gone to spend the weekend up there and camp out over night.
“I’d already pulled out an 18lb ghost carp and then at around 10.30 on the Sunday morning my line went crazy. As soon as I picked up the rod, the reel went bananas. It was then I realised I had got something really big hooked.”
He spent over half an hour gently trying to reel it in. By this time, a large crowd had gathered to see what he had snared.
He said: “It went straight across to the other side of the pond and by the time I had got it out, the crowd were half expecting me to take it home with me. It was a real adrenaline rush. They cheered when I put it back.
“It was a real thrill – the biggest I’ve caught.”

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