Kia Ora
I am originally from the UK, thats where I caught the specimen bug, I wont say I'm a dedicated carper more of a dedicated specimen hunter, we get freshwater eels up to 100lb here too!!!! I am from Manchester so cut my teeth on places like sale Marina, Chorlton Water Park, Roman Lakes Capesthorne etc etc but I then lived down south so speant a lot of time on Broadlands, Orchid, Throop, Thames etc etc then I moved to Scotland and the carp are a bit thin on the ground one day they will see a 30 + so I then got into Pike Lomond was only 5 mins from where I lived so treated myself to a boat and had some nice fish 36lb 7oz my biggest but was probably carrying 10lb of spawn like all the big fish caught in there now so maybe a high 20 when she was fighting fit, size has really become an irrelevance to me now I take each water as it comes and try to target what is available, I know I mentioned 80lb koi but not all our waters are brimming with fish this size on some a 20 would be a specimen its more about being there now, anyway enough of war and peace.
I am looking a starting a web site for anyone interested in coming to the "other" down under for a fishing break so watch this space. Apart from the airfare it is really cheap when you get here, bait is basic stuff and cost of living is a joke when you are spending brit pounds.....1500pounds for a serious shot at a world record?????? on a lake to yourself??? not a bad investment if you are that way inclined.....
Kia Ora the Kiwi Carper