Following hard on the heels of the 30-pounder caught by a London angler from Castle Mill Stream in Oxford comes another big pike from the county.

This time it was captured from an unnamed stillwater by Witney angler Mark Pearson and the specimen weighed in at an impressive 23lb 0oz.

Mark, 55, a plumber by trade, used gold-coloured smelt deadbait to No 8 trebles.

He is no stranger to big pike, having caught them to 28lb in the past.

Still on the subject of pike, the Oxfordshire branch of the GB Pike Anglers Club stage their next meeting at Oxford City Football Club on Thursday, January 14 when Anglers’ Mail columnist Gary Newman is the guest speaker.

Top fish from Oxon PACF members this season are – stillwater: Rob Orton 24.8.0, river: Martin Allen 12.0.0, junior: Ryan Styles 11.2.0.