---
title: "First-Time Fisherman Breaks English-Channel Cod Record"
description: "Chris Proctor is a very lucky man. Proctor broke the fishing record for the biggest cod ever caught in the English Channel. It was his first sea fishing trip. The 31-year-old took to the seas with a group of friends only after being goaded into it. \"I almost didn't go on the trip because I had so much work on but the rest of the guys talked me into it - thank god they did. None of us could believe our eyes when we got it on the boat and saw it's size. It was an amazing experience and a once in a lifetime catch,\" Proctor told the Metro UK."
date: "2012-02-17"
modified: "2021-04-20"
authors:
  - name: "Gayne C. Young"
    link: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/authors/gayne-c-young/"
url: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/newshound/2012/02/man-breaks-english-channel-cod-record-first-fishing-trip/"
categories:
  - "Fishing"
---

# First-Time Fisherman Breaks English-Channel Cod Record

![](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/MTXXTLBSH6XBBSFHZENB7QAXUM.jpg>)

![httpswww.outdoorlife.comsitesoutdoorlife.comfilesimport2014importBlogPostembedeccod.jpg](<https://www.outdoorlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/23/52HJUCOWL3TDPR6THJ24ZLMQVQ.jpg>)

Chris Proctor is a very lucky man.

Proctor broke the fishing record for the biggest cod ever caught in the English Channel. It was his first sea fishing trip.

The 31-year-old took to the seas with a group of friends only after being goaded into it.

"I almost didn't go on the trip because I had so much work on but the rest of the guys talked me into it - thank god they did. None of us could believe our eyes when we got it on the boat and saw it's size. It was an amazing experience and a once in a lifetime catch," Proctor [told the Metro UK](<https://www.metro.co.uk/weird/890449-first-time-angler-catches-record-breaking-fish-in-english-channel/>).

Proctor said he thought he had snagged a shipwreck, given the tremendous weight on his hook, but knew it was something extraordinary - and alive - once the reel screamed. The battle to land the fish took more than a half hour, and left Proctor spent and covered with bruises - the rod slammed into his stomach and midsection. The cod weighed 43 pounds 9 ounces. The previous record for the English Channel was 35-pound fish taken in 2000.

Proctor has feasted on his trophy many times since last week.

"I've had pan fried cod, cod in batter, a beautiful fish stew and a fish pie," Proctor said. "I can't tell you how much freezer space it has taken up."

Was this really beginners luck? Or does Proctor have a successful fishing career ahead of him? And am I the only one who didn't know that the English Channel had fish in it? I thought it was just something people swam across to get on the news.

Comment below!