Thomas Macdonald-Ames, 14, who is quickly becoming a big pike specialist, caught a 27.5lb fish on the upper Wye, near Glasbury in early January.

He made the catch on a mackerel dead bait.

Thomas, who is a Gwernyfed High School pupil, also likes to catch barble on the River Wye.

His dad, Louis Macdonald-Ames, who is head of operations at the Wye and Usk Foundation, said of the fish: "It didn’t fit in our landing net so we had to lift it out by hand. It was a she.

"We were both soaking wet afterwards.

"He caught a smaller one of 12lbs earlier in the morning."

The Wye and Usk Foundation report that conditions have been favourable for pike fishing on the River Wye, with dry weather and low water levels over the past few weeks.

It added: "Pike fishermen are quite a secretive bunch and catch reports are few and far between at this time of year. This is understandable. Their quarry, despite its ferocious looks and nature, is a fish species that is relatively sensitive to angling pressure, especially the highly prized larger specimens."