Paignton-based anglers equally enthusiastic about salt and freshwater species sallied forth to Spain in quest of the River Ebro's famous giant catfish.

Stiff action uptide rods matched with multipliers carrying 100lb test braid line and terminal tackle carrying boilies dropped overboard from a dinghy well beyond casting range was the set-up for an outstanding week's assault on these spectacular fish. The heaviest taken weighed 194lb for Tim Bird but the fish he will remember was the 'one that got away'.

Played for almost 20 minutes into the shallows it gave a surface display that revealed its immense size, judged by the Catmaster Tours Guide to be at least 230lb. To onlookers' disappointment the trace did not stand up to what was asked of it and with a final flourish, the beast shook its head and returned to the deeps.

If the estimated weight was accurate it could well have exceeded the area record of 226lb, but even bigger specimens are known to be in the confluence of the Segre and Ebro Rivers close to the small town of Mequinenza, now on the world fishing map.

Jim McCourt landed a cat of 175lb and the group also had a number of very large carp during their stay. To date British anglers have accounted for almost 30 fish weighing 200lb and above.

Carp anglers recorded excellent catches at Crediton's Creedy Manor where the best single session bag of 14 fish worth 172lb was made by Pentewan's Olly Evans, and his commons scaled up to 23lb 2oz.

St Austell's Mike Body was in the thick of the action and banked five 20-pounders to 24lb 9oz. Karen Lucas, also up from Cornwall had commons of 18lb 12oz and 16lb 2oz but Oxford's Lesley Bush had a personal best fish of 27lb 4oz.

After a remarkable week fishing, Town Parks' carp went quiet as the spawning season set in.

Best of the rest were mirror carp of 20lb 2oz and 19lb 6oz by Plymouth's James Read. Both were in good condition despite recent spawning.

On the trout front Plymouth's Peter Phillips had a most unusual trio of rainbows at a venue he is keeping quiet about. All three weighed in double figures, the best a shade over 12lb.

Saltwater catches have also been on the up. Paignton SAA recorded two new club records during the same weighing session. Craig Doidge broke his own junior record for the garfish with a specimen of 2lb 2oz 3dr, easily the heaviest of the year so far taken at a Torbay rock mark and a few days before member Lenny Barnes had a superb pair of small-eyed ray during a night session at a North Somerset beach. They weighed in at 12lb 2oz 3dr and 12lb 1oz 9dr.

Offshore, pollack to 17lb 4oz and cod to 23lb 10oz came over the gunwale of the Plymouth charter boat Sea Angler 11 drifting a wreck some way south east of the Eddystone. Stuart Bayley and John Greasby led the action provided by skipper Malcolm Jones.