Angler stunned after catching rare Atlantic salmon in London — one of the first in 200 years
The salmon was 'thin and empty', suggesting it’d been further upstream to lay eggs
AN ANGLER was stunned after reeling in a rare Atlantic salmon while fishing in London — one of the first in 200 years.
Hector Rodriguez, 34, caught the 3lb beauty on the River Wandle, a tributary feeding into the Thames.
The catch sparks hope that the species, endangered in the UK, may be returning to the river.
It was all but wiped out by pollution from factories in the 1700s.
Nationwide, its population has fallen by up to 50 per cent since 2006 — and 23 per cent globally.
Construction worker Hector caught it near Mitcham, South West London, and said: “I was gobsmacked.
“It was very strong and it jumped three times and did some somersaults.”
He said the salmon was “thin and empty”, suggesting it’d been further upstream to lay eggs.
Alison Debney, of the Zoological Society of London, told The Sun: “There has been a programme of trying to get salmon back in the Thames, led by the Environment Agency.
“They had almost lost hope.
“If salmon are coming in and interested in spawning, then it’s very good.
“It gives hope going forward.”
Stuart Singleton-White, from the Angling Trust, said the catch was “very exciting”.
But he urged caution, adding: “This is possibly a stray fish which lost its way.”
Cuban-born Hector, of Dagenham, East London, released the fish back into the Wandle and said: “I hope we will see more.”